MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra stormed from 10 factors down within the fourth quarter and held on towards the Magnolia Hotshots, 85-81, of their PBA Philippine Cup matchup Sunday on the Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings, who’re already assured of a quarterfinal spot after Phoenix’s loss earlier within the day, rose to solo fourth with a 6-3 win-loss report.
Magnolia, in the meantime, dropped to 7-2 however continues to be on prime of the competitors.
Japeth Aguilar flexed his muscle tissues inside and completed with 17 factors and 11 rebounds to go along with a block. Troy Rosario backstopped with 15 markers, 5 boards and three dimes, whereas Stephen Holt had 14 factors and 7 rebounds in additional than 42 minutes of play.
“Nicely, it was an enormous assertion recreation for us. We had been taking part in for our playoff lives in that recreation. We put a pair losses collectively, would have been robust to get again into the hunt for the highest 4, however this retains us firmly within the hunt for the highest 4,” Ginebra head coach Tim Cone mentioned after the sport.
“This nonetheless permits us to manage our personal future and, you understand, we bumped into a very good Meralco workforce the final timeout and we knew we had been going to get a lot the identical in Magnolia, however this time I believed we put up a greater combat,” he added.
“We simply persevered via the adversity and simply total confirmed numerous grit tonight and that is what we’re hoping to develop on this workforce.”
Magnolia led by 10 factors, 71-61, early on within the fourth quarter after a 3-pointer by Magnolia newcomer William Navarro.
Slowly although Ginebra crawled out of the opening and minimize the deficit to 2, 69-71, with 9:14 remaining.
The 2 groups then had a nip-and-tuck affair down the stretch, with the Gin Kings ultimately overtaking the Hotshots, 74-73, after a pair of free throws by RJ Abarrientos.
The squads traded baskets within the subsequent minutes, earlier than back-to-back layups by Rosario and Jamie Malonzo gave Ginebra an 80-77 lead with 3:25 left.
A pair of free throws by Zav Lucero minimize the deficit to at least one, 79-80, with 2:11 to go, however a reverse layup by Holt, in addition to a triple by Malonzo after a turnover by Rome dela Rosa, pushed Ginebra’s result in six, 85-79.
Ian Sangalang hit a deuce to make it a one-possession ballgame, 81-85, but it surely was the final area aim made within the recreation.
And with time winding down, Magnolia had one probability to tie issues up.
However a heave by Paul Lee from the 4-point space badly missed, sealing the Ginebra win.
Malonzo and Abarrientos added 11 and 10 factors, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
Sangalang and Lucer powered Magnolia with 16 markers apiece. Navarro, who was traded to the Hotshots nearly per week in the past, had 5 factors in 16 minutes of play.