Holt torches Rain or Shine as Ginebra gets last bonus, faces Converge in playoffs

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Stephen Holt makes it rain from three-point range as Barangay Ginebra clinches the No. 4 seed and sets up a quarterfinal clash with Converge in the PBA Philippine Cup

ANTIPOLO, Philippines – Stephen Holt shot the lights out and Barangay Ginebra claimed the last twice-to-beat bonus in the PBA Philippine Cup after a 98-80 win over Rain or Shine at the Ynares Center on Sunday, June 15.

Holt finished with 27 points on a 6-of-11 clip from three-point range and added 12 rebounds and 4 assists as the Gin Kings clinched the No. 4 seed with an 8-3 record and set up a quarterfinal clash with fifth-seeded Converge.

“This is Stephen all the time. This is Stephen in practice. The effort he brings to both sides of the ball is really phenomenal,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone of Holt. “He really leads by example.”

It was Holt who restored order for the Gin Kings after the Elasto Painters erased an 18-point deficit in the first half and seized the upper hand at 63-61 off a Santi Santillan triple with 7:30 minutes left in the third quarter.

Holt scored 5 straight points to regain the lead for Ginebra at 66-63 then knocked down a pair of three-pointers as part of a 15-0 start in the fourth period that gave the Gin Kings a comfortable 89-67 cushion. 

Japeth Aguilar continued his steady play for Ginebra with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamie Malonzo put up 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.

RJ Abarrientos added 11 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals for the Gin Kings, who also drew contributions from Scottie Thompson (8 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals) and Troy Rosario (8 points, 8 rebounds). 

Settling for runner-up finishes in the first two conferences this season, Ginebra enters the playoffs on a high after winning six of its last seven games, including its last three matches.

That stretch started with a 19-point win over its quarterfinal foe, the FiberXers.

Santillan produced 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench to pace Rain or Shine, which fell to 6-5 for the No. 7 spot and will face second-seeded NLEX. 

The other quarterfinal pairings pit No. 1 San Miguel against No. 8 and defending champion Meralco in a playoff rematch of the All-Filipino finals last season and No. 3 Magnolia against No. 6 TNT, which looks to overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage to keep its Grand Slam bid alive.

Adrian Nocum and Anton Asistio chimed in 13 and 11 points, respectively, in the loss as the Elasto Painters wrapped up the elimination round with back-to-back defeats.

The quarterfinals begin on Wednesday, June 18, with Rain or Shine plunging back to action against NLEX in the first game and TNT seeking to drag Magnolia to a sudden death in the second game at the PhilSports Arena.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 98 – Holt 27, J. Aguilar 18, Malonzo 15, Abarrientos 11, Thompson 8, Rosario 8, David 8, Adamos 2, Pessumal 1, Pinto 0, Cu 0, Ahanmisi 0, Gray 0, Mariano 0.

Rain or Shine 80 – Nocum 13, Santillan 13, Asistio 11, Malonzo 10, Mamuyac 9, Caracut 7, Clarito 6, Ildefonso 5, Datu 2, Norwood 2, Borboran 2, Escandor 0.

Quarters: 32-21, 45-43, 74-67, 98-80.

– Rappler.com