Devon Scott of San Miguel Beer looks to make a play against Aljon Mariano of Ginebra during their PBA Commissioner’s Cuo game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. PBA photo
Never say die for Ginebra
BARANGAY Ginebra’s never-say-die spirit was in full display again at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday night.
The result?
A dramatic come-from-behind 97-96 win over San Miguel Beer and a fourth-best 5-2 win-loss record in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Scottie Thompson shone brightest for the Gin Kings as he delivered the game-winning basket — a three-pointer — with 4.6 seconds left before a wildly- cheering crowd of 10,000.
Thompson’s basket on Justin Brownlee’s ninth assist for the night capped Ginebra’s comeback from a 19-point deficit (57-76).
Thompson and Brownlee were also instrumental in preventing San Miguel’s last-second shot, double-teaming import Devon Scottand forcing a steal as time expired.
San Miguel pulled ahead, 96-94, following a two-point layup by import Devon Scott with 35 seconds remaining
Jamie Malonzo then won a jump-ball with CJ Perez, tapping the ball over to Brownlee who passed the ball to Thompson in the corner.
“To be honest, yung winning shot galing kay Justin Brownlee. Siya nagsabi sa akin na as soon as the ball is tossed in the air, go to the corner. At dumating nga ang bola. Thank you sa tiwala niya,” said Thompson after the game.
Brownlee barely missed a second consecutive triple double performance as he finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists.
Thompson added 14 points, six assists, six rebounds, five steals and one block , while Malonzo and Japeth Aguilar contributed 13 points apiece.
Ginebra missed the servcices of Christian Standhardinger due to injury.
Scott had his own double-double of 26 points and 21 rebounds for the Beermen, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end and dropped to 3-4 in a tie with NLEX in eighth place.
Supporting Scott were Perez (19 points), Jericho Cruz (14), Simon Enciso ( 14), and Vic Manuel ( 13).
Up next for Ginebra is Blackwater Bossing on Nov. 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel, on the other hand, will test the mettle of Magnolia (6-1) on Nov. 16 also at the Big Dome.
Meanwhile, Calvin Abueva of Magnolia became the latest player to grab 1,000 offensive rebounds in PBA history during the Hotshots’ game against Ginebra last Oct. 23.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial handed Abueva a specially-crafted PBA plaque at halftime of the Magnolia-Blackwater match Sunday
The scores:
Ginebra (97) — Brownlee 33, Thompson 14, J.Aguilar 13, Malonzo 13, Mariano 8, Pringle 4, Pinto 4, Pessumal 3, Gray 3, Tenorio 2, R. Aguilar 0.
San Miguel (96) — Scott 26, Perez 19, Cruz 14, Enciso 14, Manuel 13, Tautuaa 8, Lassiter 2, Ross 0, Herndon 0.
Quarterscores: 19-29, 46-53, 63-80, 97-96.
Games Wednesday:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3 p.m. — Phoenix vs. Converge
5:45 p.m. — NLEX vs. NorthPort
