SCOTTIE Thompson drained the game-winning three with 53.1 seconds left to lift Barangay Ginebra to a thrilling 87-83 win over TNT on Friday night in the PBA 48th Season Philippine Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Thompson buried the marginal three in response to a three-pointer by Calvin Oftana that tied the game at 83-83. Ginebra went on to hold on to the lead to claim its third straight victory, improving its record to 6-3.
TNT dropped to 4-4.
Thompson finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and two blocks, complementing the performance of Christian Standhardinger, who set the tone for the Ginebra with 20 points and 15 rebounds.
The game was close in the end even after Ginebra led by as many as 21 points, 37-16, as TNT made a run in the second quarter to tie the game at the half, 41-41.
Baskets by Nards Pinto and Ralph Cu enabled Ginebra to take an 81-73 lead with three minutes remaining in the game only for TNT to draw level.
“It was truly a team performance,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “It was just a lot of manipulating for them and us and that’s why it felt so close.”
“We were surprised by the big lead we had. We were really surprised. I wasn’t surprised that they made a run, but I was just surprised how fast it happened. It was like a blink of an eye. All of a sudden, we were up 21. Then, all of a sudden, we were uptied. That was a bit disappointing,” Cone said.
Japeth Aguilar added 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Cu had 12 points and six rebounds for Barangay Ginebra in a big win in their first game after Jamie Malonzo suffered a calf injury against NorthPort last Sunday.
Oftana and Roger Pogoy had 19 points each for TNT, while Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser added 12 points.
Barangay Ginebra will look to stretch its winning streak when it faces Converge in Cagayan De Oro on April 27.
TNT takes on Phoenix on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 87 – Standhardinger 20, J. Aguilar 20, Thompson 17, Cu 12, Pinto 7, Ahanmisi 6, Onwubere 3, Pringle 2, Tenorio 0, David 0.
TNT 83 – Oftana 19, Pogoy 19, B. Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Williams 10, Reyes 5, Montalbo 5, Galinato 4, Khobuntin 0, Heruela 0, Ponferada 0, Aurin 0.
Quarters: 30-13; 41-41; 63-59; 87-83.
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