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Barangay Ginebra Edges San Miguel In Nail-Biting 102-99 Win To Clinch PBA Finals Spot
Photo credit: PBA
It was a game that had everyone on the edge of their seats, but Barangay Ginebra showed once again why they’re the kings of the clutch. With everything on the line, Ginebra dug deep to pull off a thrilling 102-99 victory over San Miguel Beer on Sunday, sealing their spot in the PBA Governors' Cup finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings were led by a fiery 25-point performance from Maverick Ahanmisi, who came up big when his team needed him the most. Justin Brownlee also delivered 21 points, but it was his clutch three-pointer over the towering June Mar Fajardo that proved to be the game’s turning point, giving Ginebra a crucial 102-98 lead with just seconds left.
“It took every little ounce of whatever we had left to win tonight,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted after the hard-fought victory that closed out the best-of-seven series, 4-2. The win sets up an electrifying showdown with TNT, Ginebra’s 2023 tormentor, in another race-to-four starting Sunday.
Cone acknowledged the grueling journey that both teams endured to get to this point, saying, “It just took a long toll on all of us—and them too. I gotta give credit to coach Jorge (Gallent) for keeping that team together. They had to go through the quarterfinals with Converge, play an EASL game, and then face us. That was our edge throughout the whole series; we just had a little more energy.”
San Miguel didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Beermen gave Ginebra a real scare in the dying moments, especially after Fajardo’s free throw brought them within striking distance at 102-99. They even had a shot to tie the game after Fajardo's block on Scottie Thompson, but missed attempts by EJ Anosike and Jericho Cruz dashed any hopes of forcing a Game 7.
“We were limping to the finish line,” Cone said with a relieved smile. “I was really worried we weren’t gonna pull that one out, but thank God we don’t have to go to a Game 7.”
Japeth Aguilar contributed 20 points and six rebounds, while RJ Abarrientos added 16 points. Thompson chipped in 10 points and pulled down 14 boards, as Ginebra’s key players stepped up when it mattered most.
For Ahanmisi, who was averaging just 11.4 points in the semis, this was his moment to shine. “Obviously, their focus was on Justin and Japeth inside, so I just tried to stay open as much as possible,” he shared.
Anosike led all scorers with 30 points for San Miguel, while Fajardo posted a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Marcio Lassiter also pitched in 16 points, fueled by four triples, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the resilient Gin Kings.
With the series win in the books, Ginebra now gears up for a much-anticipated finals clash against TNT, hoping to bring home another championship. The road has been long and grueling, but the Gin Kings are ready to leave it all on the court.
The Gin Kings were led by a fiery 25-point performance from Maverick Ahanmisi, who came up big when his team needed him the most. Justin Brownlee also delivered 21 points, but it was his clutch three-pointer over the towering June Mar Fajardo that proved to be the game’s turning point, giving Ginebra a crucial 102-98 lead with just seconds left.
“It took every little ounce of whatever we had left to win tonight,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone admitted after the hard-fought victory that closed out the best-of-seven series, 4-2. The win sets up an electrifying showdown with TNT, Ginebra’s 2023 tormentor, in another race-to-four starting Sunday.
Cone acknowledged the grueling journey that both teams endured to get to this point, saying, “It just took a long toll on all of us—and them too. I gotta give credit to coach Jorge (Gallent) for keeping that team together. They had to go through the quarterfinals with Converge, play an EASL game, and then face us. That was our edge throughout the whole series; we just had a little more energy.”
San Miguel didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Beermen gave Ginebra a real scare in the dying moments, especially after Fajardo’s free throw brought them within striking distance at 102-99. They even had a shot to tie the game after Fajardo's block on Scottie Thompson, but missed attempts by EJ Anosike and Jericho Cruz dashed any hopes of forcing a Game 7.
“We were limping to the finish line,” Cone said with a relieved smile. “I was really worried we weren’t gonna pull that one out, but thank God we don’t have to go to a Game 7.”
Japeth Aguilar contributed 20 points and six rebounds, while RJ Abarrientos added 16 points. Thompson chipped in 10 points and pulled down 14 boards, as Ginebra’s key players stepped up when it mattered most.
For Ahanmisi, who was averaging just 11.4 points in the semis, this was his moment to shine. “Obviously, their focus was on Justin and Japeth inside, so I just tried to stay open as much as possible,” he shared.
Anosike led all scorers with 30 points for San Miguel, while Fajardo posted a monster double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Marcio Lassiter also pitched in 16 points, fueled by four triples, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the resilient Gin Kings.
With the series win in the books, Ginebra now gears up for a much-anticipated finals clash against TNT, hoping to bring home another championship. The road has been long and grueling, but the Gin Kings are ready to leave it all on the court.
Oct 21, 2024
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