Ginebra rolled to five straight victories to end the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup elimination round but will to settle for 5th place and no twice-to-beat advantage.
Ginebra coach Tim Cone was far from satisfied in the aftermath of a 108-105 thriller against Titan Ultra at the end of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup elimination round on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Speaking to reporters after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cone believed they have yet to play their best game.
[RELATED: PBA: Ginebra pulls 'NSD' on Titan Ultra, ends elims at 5th place]
“The Rain or Shine game we played in Bahrain was not our best performance. And tonight was not our best performance,” said Cone, whose team rolled to five straight victories.
However, the Gin Kings finished outside the top-4 even with the winning streak, and will face no. 4 seed Converge in the quarterfinals with the FiberXers holding a twice-to-beat advantage.
Against Titan Ultra, the Gin Kings hobbled early and trailed by as many as 16 points before gaining steam in the third period.
But just when Ginebra though it would breezed through its foes in the final frame, the Giant Risers staged one last uprising that saw them pull to within one, 101-102, on Joshua Munzon’s Hail Mary from the four-point line.
Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos went to the line and made two free throws each, before Calvin Abueva also swished another four-pointer, 106-105, with 4.2 ticks left to play.
Abarrientos iced the game with two more from the charity stripe.
As ugly as it was, a win is a win for Cone, who is hopeful the Gin Kings will get it going in the quarterfinals.
“Hopefully we’re saving it (best performance) for first game in the playoffs,” said Cone.
Holt emerged as Player of the Game with 27 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Abarrientos followed up on his play from Bahrain with a 24-point, three-rebound, and six-assist performance. Ralph Cu had 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists, while Scottie Thompson added 11 points, six rebounds, and nine assists.
Meanwhile, Munzon fired 31 points to go with four rebounds and eight assists but the Giant Risers fell to 4-7 to end their campaign.
Abueva had 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
Ginebra vs Titan Ultra Scores:
GINEBRA 108 – Holt 27, Abarrientos 24, Cu 12, Thompson 11, Rosario 10, Torres 8, J.Aguilar 5, David 4, Estil 4, Gray 3, Abis 0
TITAN ULTRA 105 – Munzon 31, Abueva 26, Dionisio 14, Balanza 9, Flores 8, Pessumal 4, Yu 3, Sangco 3, Melecio 3, Ular 2, Ambohot 2, Ambohot 2, Javillonar 0, Monje 0, Martinez 0
Quarterscores: 19-30, 42-55, 73-75, 108-105
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.