MANILA – Rhon Jay Abarrientos caught fire in the fourth quarter as Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings prevailed over San Miguel Beermen, 100-90, in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The rookie guard finished with 24 points, including 18 in the fourth quarter, to go with nine rebounds and eight assists as the Gin Kings seized a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“Siguro, nakatulong sa akin ‘yung pag-motivate ng coaches. Lahat sila sinasabi na if I have the shots, I should just take it, hindi nila ako pinipigilan,” Abarrientos said after the win.
“’Yung confidence hindi lang naman galing sa akin, galing rin sa teammates at sa coaches na laging nagre-remind sa akin na gawin ko lang ‘yung dapat ko gawin para makatulong sa team,” he added.
Jamie Malonzo added 20 markers and seven rebounds, Japeth Aguilar contributed 18 markers, while Earl Scottie Thompson and Stephen Holt had 16 and 10 points, respectively, for the Gin Kings.
“It’s really, really hard to play three games in five days. It is really tough,” Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said in a post-game interview. “We didn’t do it in the eliminations, so come playoff time, playing three games in five days is really tough.”
“Showing up every night and playing a perfect game is almost impossible if you are playing that many games in that short of a time,” he added. “I am just proud of our guys for steadying themselves in this game.”
Celedonio Trollano top-scored for the Beermen with 22 points, June Mar Fajardo had a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds, Jaymar Perez and Jericho Cruz had 11 apiece, and Juan Miguel Tiongson contributed 10 markers.
Meanwhile, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters leaned on their torrid shooting to defeat TNT Tropang 5G, 107-86, in Game 3 and trim their best-of-seven series deficit to 1-2.
Anton Asistio spearheaded the offense with 24 points, including four three-pointers and two four-pointers, Caelan Tiongson added 16 markers, while Keith Datu, Leonard Santillan, and Adrian Nocum contributed 13, 12, and 10, respectively, for the Painters./PN
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 100 – Abarrientos 24, Malonzo 20, J. Aguilar 18, Thompson 16, Holt 10, Ahanmisi 7, Rosario 5, Pinto 0, R. Aguilar 0, Gray 0, David 0.
SAN MIGUEL 90 – Trollano 22, Fajardo 12, Cruz 11, Perez 11, Tiongson 10, Ross 6, Tautuaa 6, Lassiter 5, Rosales 3, Brondial 2, Cahilig 0.
Quarterscores: 23-20, 46-50, 71-64, 100-90.
