Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and the Converge FiberXers clashed in Sunday’s lone game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals berth on the line. The two teams delivered a classic, with Ginebra pulling out a 99–98 escape act in overtime to advance to the semis against the San Miguel Beermen.
What Happened?
Converge and Ginebra went at it like two heavyweights intent on delivering an epic. Converge struck first, only to see Ginebra hit right back. Then, after 24 hard-fought minutes, the FiberXers nudged ahead, 40–39, in a repeat of the two teams’ Christmas Day game. Ginebra appeared to seize control in the third, outgunning Converge, 29–20, to take a 68–60 lead into the payoff period.
But Converge steadily crawled back into the game, led by Juan Gomez de Liaño and Archie Concepcion. The FiberXers retook the lead, 84–83, on a tough and-one by JGDL and looked headed for the win after taking an 86–83 advantage with nine seconds left on two Kevin Racal free throws. However, Alec Stockton fouled Jeremiah Gray while he was taking a desperation triple in the ensuing possession, sending him to the line. Gray made all three free throws before Gomez de Liaño missed a long four-pointer in Converge’s try for the win.
The FiberXers again looked headed for victory after JGDL hit a four-pointer to push Converge ahead, 95–89. But Ginebra, with Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar sidelined due to six fouls, kept fighting. Two free throws from RJ Abarrientos got Ginebra to within 95–93, while a triple from Troy Rosario nudged the crowd darlings even closer, 97–96. Tim Cone’s squad then got the ball back with eight seconds remaining, down by just two points, 98–96. That’s when Stephen Holt found himself wide open from straightaway and drilled the game-winning trey.
Who Stood Out?
Heroes were aplenty for both sides in this epic do-or-die game. Holt, obviously, gets special mention for winning the game at the buzzer with that dagger triple. But credit must also go to Abarrientos, who was steady even in the face of Converge’s sticky, physical defense on him throughout. Troy Rosario and his 12-point, 14-rebound game were difference-makers as well, ditto for Scottie Thompson’s 13 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.
For Converge, Gomez de Liaño proved to be every bit a closer, firing most of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and OT. Concepcion was sensational as well, submitting a career night of 18 points that nearly pushed the FiberXers to the semis. Justine Baltazar and Justin Arana played big games, too, with the former notching 13 points and 20 rebounds and the latter putting up 15 markers and 13 caroms.
3 Keys to the Game
- Never-say-die spirit. At least a couple of times, Team NSD looked dead in the water, especially after falling behind by six in OT. But every time hope seemed lost, Ginebra showed why it is the poster boy for the never-say-die spirit, rising from the dead to send the game to OT on Gray’s trio of pressure-packed freebies and then winning it at the buzzer in extra time.
- Composure. A big reason Ginebra survived Converge was its composure, even when the FiberXers seemed on the verge of sealing the game. Rather than panic, the crowd darlings stuck to their game plan and watched as their adversaries made one miscue after another in the dying seconds.
- Free-throw shooting. Cone’s squad was, at one point, 10-for-21 from the charity stripe, with Rosario and Thompson combining to go 0-for-6. But Ginebra made its last 11 freebies, including the three crucial free throws by Gray and the four Abarrientos made in overtime.
Next Up for the PBA
The PBA will play its final game of 2025 on Monday, also at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The lone outing will see the Meralco Bolts facing off with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in a matchup that will decide which team will take the last semis seat and face the TNT Tropang 5G.
Meralco vs. Rain or Shine (7:30 p.m.)
