As soon as the ball kissed the net, Stephen Holt threw both his arms up in the air as cheers inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum reached a crescendo Sunday night, Dec. 28.
Struggling for most of the way, Holt swished the most important basket of the match — a cold-blooded three-pointer over Converge big Justine Baltazar on top of the key that catapulted Ginebra to the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals.
“That's probably one of the biggest shots of my career,” said Holt after the fifth-ranked Gin Kings stole a 99-98 win in overtime over the No. 4, twice-to-beat-armed FiberXers.
[RELATED STORY: PBA: Ginebra overcomes 2x-to-beat disadvantage vs Converge, grabs 3rd semis berth]
The Fil-American cager was 1-for-7 from the three-point zone before delivering the game-triple. He finished with nine points while also collaring eight rebounds and dishing out four assists in over 41 minutes of play.
Holt said that the last play was designed for RJ Abarrientos.
However, Abarrientos did not get a good look and passed the ball to him instead. Holt thus found himself thrust into the hero's role for Ginebra. He took one dribble left before pulling up for the dagger.
"The play was obviously for RJ. We didn't get a good look. It didn't work out. The second option was for me to try and come up with a pick and roll," said Holt.
"I just wanted to execute whatever the game presented to me. I just wanted to step up for my team because I feel like we deserve this. We just showed so much heart. People fouling out, going to overtime... That's just true NSD spirit," he added.
Delivering when it mattered
The former Rookie of the Year knew he must not blow up his chance with the Gin Kings’ conference on the line.
“It’s pretty clear I was struggling on both ends of the floor. But I just love my guys. They continued to give me confidence. When I had my moment, I knew I had to step up,” Holt said.
Ginebra actually had one foot out the exit door as it trailed 83-86 with nine seconds to go in regulation.
But Alec Stockton fouled Jeremiah Gray as he swung a three-point shot, sending the latter to the line.
He canned the three freebies that knotted the count at 86-all to force the extension.
It was not easy either for the Gin Kings in the extra period, as they found themselves staring at an 89-95 deficit after FiberXers rookie Juan Gomez de Liaño’s booming four at the 1:38 mark.
Abarrientos then drilled in four free throws before Gomez de Liaño answered with his own pair of charities to keep Converge ahead, 97-93.
But Troy Rosario quickly retaliated with a triple for the Gin Kings to threaten within one, 96-97, with 20.3 left in the match.
Enter Holt, whose shot set up a best-of-seven semifinal clash for the Gin Kings against defending champion San Miguel.
Abarrientos followed up on his career-high 35-point game in the quarterfinals with 20 points, three assists and two steals.
Scottie Thompson posted 13 markers, five boards and eight dimes, Jayson David scored 13, Rosario submitted 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Gray tallied nine points.
Meanwhile, Gomez de Liaño put up 25 markers and five rebounds to atone for his nine-point performance in the previous game.
Archie Concepcion had 18 points, while Justin Arana added 15 markers and 20 boards.
Ginebra vs. Converge Scores:
Ginebra 99 – Abarrientos 20, David 13, Thompson 13, Rosario 12, J.Aguilar 10, Holt 9, Gray 9, Torres 8, Cu 4, Estil 1, Pinto 0
Converge 98 – Gomez de Liano 25, Concepcion 18, Arana 15, Baltazar 13, Caralipio 11, Stockton 8, Winston 6, Racal 2, Garcia 0, Muyang 0, Manuel 0, Delos Santos 0, Eguilos 0
Quarterscores: 19-21, 39-40, 68-60, 86-86, 99-98 (OT)
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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.