Holt shines as Ginebra downs ROS to claim last Top 4 seat
At A Glance
- Barangay Ginebra pulled away in the final frame and took down Rain or Shine, 98-80, to claim the last seat in the Top 4 and the twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, June 15.
Stephen Holt sizzles for Ginebra. (PBA Images)
Barangay Ginebra pulled away in the final frame and took down Rain or Shine, 98-80, to claim the last seat in the Top 4 and the twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, June 15.
Stephen Holt presided over the huge second half breakaway, firing 11 of his 27 points in the third quarter where the Kings created the separation over the hard-fighting Elasto Painters.
With the win, Ginebra improved to an 8-3 record, sharing the top spot with San Miguel, NLEX, and Magnolia. The Kings, however, ended up at the fourth spot of the standings due to their inferior quotient.
Rain or Shine, meanwhile, dropped all the way to the seventh spot after finishing the eliminations with a 6-5 record.
The Elasto Painters actually still had the chance at making it into the top 4 although they needed 14 or more points of winning margin against the Kings.
ROS was very much within that goal in the third frame when it managed to to stick around Ginebra, even taking a 63-61 lead. With Holt leading the assault, Ginebra then unloaded a searing 18-4 rally bridging the last two quarters to establish a huge 98-67 lead.
Holt drilled in six triples while also hauling 12 rebounds and dishing out four assists to his line. Japeth Aguilar and Jamie Malonzo also had double-doubles with the former firing 18 points and the latter adding 15 points while both collaring 10 rebounds each.
Adrian Nocum and Leonard Santillan had 13 points apiece to pace Rain or Shine, which will be facing up against a twice-to-beat NLEX in the quarterfinals.