Stephen Holt’s Never Say Die spirit was on full display as the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings squeaked past the Converge FiberXers, 99-98, in overtime of their do-or-die PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals 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.
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 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. 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. Gray 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.
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 and Baltazar 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 the San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-seven semifinal series. (GMA Integrated News)