Manila, Philippines – September 30, 2016 Semi-final match between San Miguel and Barangay Ginebra.
It was a dramatic game that ended Aguilar with his heroic game of his career as he hit a jumper in dying seconds that help the Ginebra to take a commanding lead in the series (2-1) of best of five games.
It started early when a 15-2 run by Ginebra with 8:05 minutes left in the opening period. But the early foul of the “Kraken” in first quarter lead him to sit on the bench, but they managed without their Center ended with a 1 point deficit (29-28) in the first quarter.
PBA Media Bureau
San Miguel has ignited on the second quarter as they take a 12 point lead 45-33 when June Mar Fajardo is inserted again in the line up. But the Barangay Ginebra spark with 14-5 run (47-50) to cut the deficit in 3, on the other hand San Miguel ended 4 points lead in first half (51-55), thanks for their 57% conversion in the 3 point area (11/21) in 2 quarters.
Going to third quarter the game is very intense as both teams had a basket after a basket, going to 3 minutes left in the quarter the game is tied again to (75-55) for the eight deadlock of the game, unlucky for the San Miguel as June Mar Fajardo consecutively got his 4th and 5th personal foul with more than 3 minutes to play in the third quarter.
With the long absence of June Mar Fajardo in the fourth quarter his team doesn’t have any major run as the Barangay fought back till the end. With less than 5 minutes left in the last period “Kraken” is now inserted again, but it can’t hurt anymore to Ginebra as the score is so close. Arwind Santos got his midrange basket that lead (94-92) with less than 2 minutes to play, but that was answered by a 3 point explosion of Tenorio on the next position (95-94), Arwind who got his very important basket that made (96-95) with 44 seconds left.
San Miguel had the chance to seal the game after the Barangay Ginebra missed a basket on the next position that lead Alex Cabagnot in transition to find an open teammate Arwind Santos who missed the lay-up to a potentially winning basket. With 17 seconds on the clock Ginebra’s got the position, Justin Brownlee missed the 3 point attempt with 7 seconds remaining, but Thompson got his 11 rebounds and missed his jumper, Tenorio who pick up the missed shot an find Mercado who drive and set a screen to put Aguilar on an open shot as he hit before the clock expired.
Please see a clip of his heroic shot from “Usapang Basketbol” page
History
Thanks for the big production of Scottie Thompson with 12 points and 11 boards along with 10 assist who became the first rookie in the last 15 years to record a triple-double, the last who made that stats was Davonn Harp’s in 2000 for Red Bull. Thompson also the first Filipino born citizen after 23 years that Johnny Abarrientos (Flying A) recorded in 1993.
San Miguel will try to even the series on Sunday, October 02, 2016
Quarter Scores: 29-28, 51-55, 78-77, 97-96
Leading Scorer
Barangay Ginebra (97): Brownlee 25, Aguilar 22, Tenorio 20, Thompson 12
San Miguel (96): Millsap 24, Lassiter 15, Santos 15, Cabagnot 13, Fajardo 11
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