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Never Say Die Magic Ginebra Stuns Converge In OT Thriller
Photo credit: PBA
They’ve pulled it off so many times before — and they did it again when it mattered most.
Barangay Ginebra punched its ticket to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals after a heart-stopping 99–98 overtime win over the Converge FiberXers Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Tim Cone could only marvel at how the game turned around.
“It’s miraculous to me,” Cone said, calling it a great steal of a win that now sets up another semifinal showdown with San Miguel Beer.
Converge had Ginebra in trouble several times, but the Gin Kings kept clawing back. And then came the dagger — Stephen Holt’s step-back three at the buzzer that ripped the win away from the FiberXers.
“Credit to Converge — they showed a lot of resilience. But the Ginebra ‘NSD’ spirit continues,” Holt said, admitting he struggled most of the night but delivered when it counted.
Before Holt’s heroics, Jeremiah Gray, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario kept the Kings alive with clutch baskets, even as Ginebra lost Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar to fouls.
Gray’s three free throws with 3.4 seconds left in regulation forced overtime after an ill-timed foul by Alec Thompson.
In OT, Converge surged ahead, 95–89, thanks to a long four-pointer from Juan Gomez de Liano. But Abarrientos and Rosario answered right back, pulling Ginebra within striking distance — setting the stage for Holt to finish the job.
“We didn’t play really well, but we just kept battling and kept fighting,” Cone said.
The win capped Ginebra’s comeback from a twice-to-beat disadvantage, following their earlier 105–85 blowout that forced the do-or-die match.
Now, the Gin Kings are headed to their eighth straight semifinals appearance.
Next up: top seed San Miguel Beer, in a best-of-seven showdown starting January 4.
Barangay Ginebra punched its ticket to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals after a heart-stopping 99–98 overtime win over the Converge FiberXers Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Tim Cone could only marvel at how the game turned around.
“It’s miraculous to me,” Cone said, calling it a great steal of a win that now sets up another semifinal showdown with San Miguel Beer.
Converge had Ginebra in trouble several times, but the Gin Kings kept clawing back. And then came the dagger — Stephen Holt’s step-back three at the buzzer that ripped the win away from the FiberXers.
“Credit to Converge — they showed a lot of resilience. But the Ginebra ‘NSD’ spirit continues,” Holt said, admitting he struggled most of the night but delivered when it counted.
Before Holt’s heroics, Jeremiah Gray, RJ Abarrientos, and Troy Rosario kept the Kings alive with clutch baskets, even as Ginebra lost Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar to fouls.
Gray’s three free throws with 3.4 seconds left in regulation forced overtime after an ill-timed foul by Alec Thompson.
In OT, Converge surged ahead, 95–89, thanks to a long four-pointer from Juan Gomez de Liano. But Abarrientos and Rosario answered right back, pulling Ginebra within striking distance — setting the stage for Holt to finish the job.
“We didn’t play really well, but we just kept battling and kept fighting,” Cone said.
The win capped Ginebra’s comeback from a twice-to-beat disadvantage, following their earlier 105–85 blowout that forced the do-or-die match.
Now, the Gin Kings are headed to their eighth straight semifinals appearance.
Next up: top seed San Miguel Beer, in a best-of-seven showdown starting January 4.
Dec 29, 2025
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