Ginebra stages scintillating endgame run to stun SMB, nabs last semis berth

Sports

THE Barangay Ginebra Kings rode on a scintillating fourth-quarter run to stun the San Miguel Beermen, 110-94, in a do-or-die Game 5 of their quarterfinal series in the PBA Season 50 Governor’s Cup on Tuesday night, Nov. 10, at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.

Ginebra fell behind at the half, 49-57, and was still down at the end of the fourth, 76-80.

The Kings then came up with a blistering 27-4 run to open the fourth, turning what was once a close game into a rout.

Overall, Ginebra outscored San Miguel in the payoff period, 34-14, as it closed out the series after the Beermen threatened to pull off a big comeback.

The Kings took the first two games of the series but the Beermen responded with back-to-back wins that set the stage for the knockout match.

Ginebra, thus, arranged a best-of-semifinal series with the dangerous TNT Tropang 5G. The other semis pair will pit the Converge FiberXers and the NLEX Road Warriors.

The semifinal round will begin on Dec. 4 as the league takes a break to pave the way for Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

THE SCORES:

GINEBRA (110) – Murphy 31, Thompson 29, Abarrientos 19, Pinto 9, J.Aguilar 7, Holt 5, Rosario 4, Cu 3, Go 3, Gray 0.

SAN MIGUEL (94) – King 31, Fajardo 20, Perez 15, Trollano 10, Ahanmisi 9, Lassiter 4, Teng 3, Ross 2, Brondial 0, Tautuaa 0.QUARTERSCORES: 26-20, 49-57, 76-80, 110-94.(CCM)