A CHRISTMAS Day game to remember for PBA fans as Barangay Ginebra beat Magnolia Hotshots in a ‘Manila Clasico’ special, 95-93, ending in a wire-to-wire action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, on Wednesday is definitely one of the best in history.
Scottie Thompson will also have a memorable Christmas, as one of his wishes may have come true by hitting the game-winning three to lead Ginebra to a comeback victory in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup.
“Never Say Die” spirit
The competing teams went at it right away, with multiple deadlocks and lead changes in only the first frame. Magnolia emerged victorious, leading 30-24 at the quarter’s finish.
Building on their momentum, the Hotshots quickly jumped to a double-digit lead, eventually reaching 16 points when Aris Dionisio made a corner three, 53-37, with two minutes left in the second quarter.
The GinKings were able to decrease the gap to a single digit, but Magnolia was all over the floor, connecting basket after basket to expand their lead to 22 points with exactly 3:33 minutes remaining in the third.
Just as the Ginebra crowd was quieted by the Hotshots, RJ Abarrientos took matters into his own hands, going on an 11-point personal spree that included three straight threes before entering the fourth quarter.
Abarrientos, a young star rookie, demonstrated the franchise’s “Never Say Die” mantra, which shifted the momentum back in their favor. Ginebra went up by two points, 86-84, after a Justin Brownlee three.
Following an Abarrientos performance, Brownlee refocused the limelight on himself, hitting three consecutive three-pointers of hu own to give Ginebra a 92-90 lead with two minutes remaining in the game.
Magnolia refused to let go, and Ricardo Rattlife found Rome Dela Rosa below to tie at 92. However, with a few seconds remaining, Abarrientos made a perfect pass to an open Thompson, who made the game-winning three.
One for the fans
After leading one of the best comebacks in a Christmas Day game, Ginebra head coach Tim Cone was simply pleased that his team was able to provide their supporters with a fantastic night at the Big Dome.
“At halftime, I was so disappointed because you know, we had a nice crowd. They came to watch the game and we played so poorly in the first half,” Cone said during the postgame press conference.
“I just think the guys kind of gathered themselves and got a little bit determined there in the second half,” he went on.
Cone also walked everyone through the masterclass final play that he drew, “It was designed for RJ to make a decision. We wanted to get the ball into RJ’s hands, put him in a pick and roll situation with Justin.”
“So we wanted to flare Justin out, and spread everybody out and we’re hoping that RJ will get some penetration in the paint then throw it back to Justin or find somebody open. We put the game in RJ’s hands, and he delivered with a great pass to Scottie.”
Brownlee finished the game with 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Meanwhile, in his first “Christmas Clasico,” Abarrientos scored 20 points, assisted five times, and stole three.
Troy Rosario also contributed significantly, scoring 15 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Thompson, the game’s hero, with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds. He also reached 2,000 league assists.
