PBA: Stephen Holt hits game-winning triple vs Converge as Barangay Ginebra reaches semis

Stephen Holt’s Never Say Die spirit was on full display Sunday as Barangay Ginebra squeaked past Converge, 99-98, in overtime of their do-or-die PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing 98-96 with less than eight seconds left in the extra period, Holt buried the game-winning triple at the buzzer to propel Ginebra into the semifinals.

The two teams battled down to the wire even before overtime, trading leads as both sides fought for a semifinal berth.

Barangay Ginebra led 80-77 with 1:58 remaining in the fourth quarter before back-to-back baskets from Archie Concepcion and Juan Gomez de Liaño swung the lead in Converge’s favor in the dying moments of regulation.

Holt attempted a three-pointer moments later, but a foul by Concepcion on RJ Abarrientos sent the latter to the free-throw line. Abarrientos knocked down all three freebies to give Ginebra an 83–81 lead.

Determined to reach his first PBA semifinal, Gomez de Liaño answered with a three-point play to reclaim the lead for Converge, 84-83.

Abarrientos missed a potential go-ahead triple, and after a series of Converge substitutions, Scottie Thompson was whistled for his sixth foul on Kevin Racal. Jeremiah Gray subbed in as Racal made both free throws, pushing Converge ahead, 86-83, with nine seconds remaining.

A late foul by Alec Stockton on Gray, who was attempting a three, sent Gray to the line, where he sank all three free throws to force overtime.

Concepcion opened the extra period with a triple, but Holt responded with a three-point play to tie the game at 89.

Justine Baltazar scored before Gomez de Liaño drilled a four-pointer to give Converge a 95-89 cushion with 1:39 left in overtime.

Abarrientos then trimmed the deficit with free throws following fouls by Stockton and Michael Garcia, pulling Ginebra within two, 95-93, with 46 seconds remaining.

Japeth Aguilar later fouled Gomez de Liaño, his sixth, sending the Converge rookie to the line, where he made both free throws for a 97–93 lead.

Troy Rosario answered with a clutch triple off a Holt assist to cut the gap to one point with 20 seconds left. Sonny Estil then fouled Baltazar, who split his free throws to put Converge up 98-96 with eight seconds to go.

Holt’s ensuing game-winning three then ended Converge’s run in the All-Filipino Conference.

“It has been a tough road for us from the very start, but our guys kept battling,” Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone said. “That team, Converge, played with so much heart tonight.”

Abarrientos finished with 20 points despite shooting just four field goals, including two three-pointers, to go with 10 free throws, three assists, and two steals. Thompson and Jayson David scored 13 points apiece, while Rosario posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Aguilar added 10 points and seven boards before fouling out.

The win spoiled another strong performance from Gomez de Liaño, who tallied 25 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Concepcion added 18 points, while Converge big men Justin Arana (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Baltazar (13 points, 20 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles. King Caralipio chipped in 11 points, and Stockton had eight.

In Game 1, Barangay Ginebra defeated Converge, 105-85.

Barangay Ginebra will face San Miguel in a best-of-seven semifinal series.

Scores:

Barangay Ginebra 99 – Abarrientos 20, David 13, Thompson 13, Rosario 12, J.Aguilar 10, Holt 9, Gray 9, Torres 8, Cu 4, Estil 1, Pinto 0.

Converge 98 – Gomez de Liano 25, Concepcion 18, Arana 15, Baltazar 13, Caralipio 11, Stockton 8, Winston 6, Racal 2, Garcia 0, Muyang 0, Manuel 0, Delos Santos 0, Eguilos 0.

Quarters: 19-21, 39-40, 68-60, 86-86, 99-98.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News