Stephen Holt gives Converge another QF heartbreak as Ginebra sets PBA PH Cup semis vs SMB

Vic Manuel can't help but let Japeth Aguilar take flight for the jam. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Stephen Holt stunned Converge right at the final buzzer as he hit the game-winning three to give Ginebra a 99-98 escape in their knockout PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Holt and RJ Abarrientos made great use of the remaining 8.5 seconds in the overtime period as they played a two-man game to set up the former's buzzer-beater.

Holt first trapped MJ Garcia into a fake before taking a one-dribble pull-up from the top of the key for the Gin Kings' dagger.

Abarrientos led Ginebra, which will now face San Miguel in the semifinals next month, with 20 points, three assists--none bigger than the clutch feed to Holt--and two steals off the bench.

Scottie Thompson and Jayson David each added 13 points, while Troy Rosario added 12 points, including a long three-pointer that kept his team in the game, 14 rebounds, and three assists.

Rosario barely missed out on a four-pointer as both feet were on the four-point line when he made his long bomb, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it kept an opportunity for the Gin Kings to actually steal the game outright open.

Balti Baltazar somehow gave them more clutch moment options as he split his charities after a Sonny Estil foul, eventually leading up to the Holt dagger.

Juan Gomez De Liano finished with 25 points, including a four-pointer with 1:39 left that gave Converge a six-point lead, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.

However, Ginebra finished the game on a 10-3 run as the team also held Converge without a field goal the rest of the way.

Justin Arana added 15 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, and one block, but he was held scoreless in the entire overtime period, even as he missed two free throws that could have given the FiberXers more breathing room.

Baltazar contributed 13 points, 20 rebounds, and one assist, but he was 3-for-6 from the foul line as they blew a twice-to-beat advantage and missed the semifinals for the seventh straight time.