RJ Abarrientos' near triple-double fuels Game 3 win for Ginebra

Barangay Ginebra banked on the hot hands of RJ Abarrientos in the fourth quarter to complete a 100-90 win against San Miguel in Game 3 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. 

The 25-year-old guard erupted for 18 points in the fourth quarter that allowed the Gin Kings to bounce back and pull away for good to take a 2-1 series lead.

Abarrientos flirted with a triple-double after pouring in a game-high 24 points together with nine rebounds and eight assists to recover from a personal offensive foes in the past two games. 

He only had two points in their 73-71 escape in Game 1 and posted seven markers in Game 2 that saw Ginebra falling to San Miguel, 100-83. 

Abarrientos made sure to contribute in that department come Game 3 as after only scoring six through the first three quarters, the do-it-all guard caught fire in the fourth, hitting a stepback four-point shot over Juami Tiongson to send Ginebra to an 82-73 lead. 

The fiery guard also created for his teammates, dishing a pass that led to a Maverick Ahanmisi three-pointer before hitting a pair of jumpers and knocking down another triple to make it a 96-82 cushion. 

Ginebra, however, didn't lack support from the bench with Jamie Malonzo tallying 20 points, seven rebounds, and three steals while Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson chipped in 18 and 16 markers apiece. 

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 100 – Abarrientos 24, Malonzo 20, J.Aguilar 18, Thompson 16, Holt 10, Ahanmisi 7, Rosario 5, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0, Gray 0.

San Miguel 90 – Trollano 22, Fajardo 12, Cruz 11, Perez 11, Tiongson 10, Ross 6, Tuatuaa 6, Lassiter 5, Rosales 3, Brondial 2, Cahilig 0.

Quarters: 23-20, 46-50, 71-64, 100-90.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News