MANILA, Philippines — Bagama’t ilang beses nang nagawang posible ang isang bagay na imposible ay nagugulat pa rin si coach Tim Cone sa Barangay Ginebra.
Lalo na ng muling ipakita ng Gin Kings ang kanilang taglay na “Never Say Die” spirit sa 95-92 pag-eskapo sa Magnolia Hotshots sa kanilang Christmas Day game sa PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup noong Miyerkules.
Sinaksihan ng kabuuang 12,198 fans sa Smart Araneta Coliseum ang buzzer-beating three-point shot ni Scottie Thompson.
“You could kind of feel it coming. You could feel the momentum,” sabi ni Cone. “We don’t represent Ginebra’s aura of ‘Never Say Die’ as much as the old Jaworski days, but we still feel it.”
Kinumpleto ni Thompson ang pagbangon ng Ginebra mula sa isang 22-point deficit sa third quarter para itaas ang kanilang record sa 4-2.
Bagsak naman ang Magnolia sa 2-5 marka.
Tatlong triples ang isinalpak ni rookie guard RJ Abarrientos sa third period bago nakatuwang sina Maverick Ahanmisi at import Justin Brownlee sa ratsada sa fourth quarter.
“At halftime, I was so disappointed because you know, we had a nice crowd. They came to watch the game and we played so poorly in the first half,” ani Cone.
“I just think the guys kind of gathered themselves and got a little bit determined there in the second half,” dagdag ng two-time PBA Grand Slam champion coach.
Tumapos si Thompson na may 14 points, 6 assists at 5 rebounds.
Sunod na lalabanan ng Gin Kings ang San Miguel Beermen sa Enero 5.