At A Glance
- RJ Abarrientos scored on a clutch layup in the waning seconds to lift Barangay Ginebra past Magnolia, 91-89, and get back on the winning track in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, April 10.
RJ Abarrientos scored on a clutch layup in the waning seconds to lift Barangay Ginebra past Magnolia, 91-89, and get back on the winning track in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, April 10.
With the game tied 89-all with 8.2 seconds left, the Kings executed a perfectly drawn play with Scottie Thompson finding Abarrientos on the curl for the go-ahead layup he made under the outstretched arms of Hotshots import Clint Chapman.
The clutch layup allowed Abarrientos to make up for the three free throws he gave Mark Barroca after fouling him while taking a three on the play prior.
Abarrientos finished with 19 points while Thompson had his breakout game this conference with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
Justin Brownlee was on his usual scoring load, chalking up 29 points and nine rebounds as the Kings recovered after squandering a once 15-point lead in the first half.
Ginebra improved to a 3-2 record while Magnolia slid to a 2-4 slate.
Zav Lucero paced the Hotshots with 19 points while Chapman, after two explosive outings, struggled against the Kings defense with 18 points, 10 rebounds and a team-high eight turnovers.
The Hotshots still had one shot to tie or win the game in the final possession but Jerom Lastimosa was caught in no man’s land inside the paint, turning the ball over with a second left on the clock.