Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is the first team to enter the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup semifinals.
The Tim Cone-mentored team did so after they completed a come-from-behind win against the Meralco Bolts, 113-106, during their quarterfinals Game 3 clash at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Monday evening in Manila.
Justin Brownlee was stellar as usual for Ginebra, tallying 23 points — eight of which came in their fourth quarter showing — together with four assists and three rebounds, while also starring was Stephen Holt who fired 19 markers, seven boards, and five dimes.
“Right before the end of the first half, Coach Tim lit a fire under me, that I needed to be more aggressive,” said Holt, who was a part of the group that delivered the daggers for BGSM in the closing minutes.
“My teammates also stepped up and made critical shots, so it was a total team effort, but it will also take a total team effort in the next series,” added the Best Player of the Game.
The rest of the Gin Kings indeed stepped up as after erasing a 78-66 advantage by Meralco, the Gin Kings came alive in the fourth period thanks to the heroics of Brownlee and Abarrientos.
Brownlee jump-started the run by BGSM to open the final canto by firing two long bombs at the four-point line, while it was Abarrientos who tied the game at 92 after a mid-range jumper at the 7:30 mark.
The former Far Eastern University star then converted an and-one to give Ginebra a 97-94 lead with still 5:38 in the contest as they finally got the lead for the first time since the first half.
Barangay Ginebra‘s Stephen Holt. Photo from PBA Images
Allen Durham did his best to keep the Govs’ Cup campaign of the Bolts as the former Best Import later brought his team to within four, 102-98, after Mav Ahanmisi’s trey had put Ginebra up 102-96.
Anjo Caram also hit a four-pointer with under a minute left to allow Meralco to get within a possession, 109-106, after Holt and Scottie Thompson converted timely baskets.
Unfortunately for the Bolts, Holt and Ahanmisi each had perfect trips to the 15-foot-line to finally close out the series and sweep their modern-day rivals.
“I’m totally shocked that we were able to beat them in three straight games,” admitted Cone. “Each game was a play here and a play there that would’ve changed the complexion of the game, but the team that continues to battle and play hard, usually, the ball falls into their favor. The ball rolled in our favor.”
These manifested by the numbers as aside from Brownlee and Holt, also showing out was Japeth Aguilar who had 19 points, eight rebounds, and two dimes, and Ahanmisi who scored 17 markers, Abarrientos who put up the same amount while also dishing out six dimes and grabbing six boards, and Thompson’s 16 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
“Just credit goes to the guys who really reached in deep. Stephen really locked in in the second half, and they were amazing to watch,” said Cone.
Moving forward, as Ginebra is set to face the winner between the San Miguel Beermen and the Converge FiberXers, Coach Tim is baking on a collective effort from his troops since they are coming in the semis sans Jamie Malonzo, Jeremiah Gray, and Isaac Go.
“Depth’s always a concern. It was a concern coming into this series. That is why we convinced Joe [Devance] to rejoin us. He didn’t put up big numbers, but his presence, giving Japeth breaks, it put us back in the normal position and not playing out of position.”
“We’re not gonna see Isaac anytime soon, we’re not gonna see Jamie or Miah anytime soon, so we’ll deal with what we have, and we’ll figure out a way just like how we did tonight,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Durham concluded his PBA return for now with a 38-point, 13-rebound game to go along with an assist, a steal, and a block.
The Scores :
Ginebra 113 – Brownlee 23, Holt 19, J.Aguilar 19, Abarrientos 17, Ahanmisi 17, Thompson 16, Devance 2, Cu 0, R.Aguilar 0, Pessumal 0.
Meralco 106 – Durham 38, Quinto 19, Newsome 14, Banchero 10, Hodge 10, Caram 7, Bates 4, Rios 2, Mendoza 2, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores : 28-27, 47-56, 83-72, 113-106.
