Scottie Thompson produced a career-high 35 points to highlight his triple-double showing in Ginebra’s Game 4 win over San Miguel in the PBA Philippine Cup semis.
Scottie Thompson chose the perfect night to play his best game.
Thompson took the spotlight Sunday night, Jan. 11, when he produced a triple-double highlighted by a career-high 35 points in Ginebra's 105-91 win over San Miguel in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals.
He also tallied 11 rebounds and 11 assists to help the Gin Kings recover their winning ways to tie the best-of-seven series.
“I prayed for this game,” said Thompson shortly after the match at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Talagang we fought hard. We battled down the stretch. We defended well. I hope ma-continue namin sa next game.”
That could not be any truer.
Ginebra fights back
The Gin Kings first needed to climb from 16 points down in the opening quarter before fighting tooth-and-nail against the Beermen down the stretch to bag the win.
Ginebra gained some cushion when Thompson put up a personal 7-to-nothing run for a 91-83 lead with still 5:41 left to play.
As hard as San Miguel tried to make things interesting, by then, everything was just smooth sailing for the Gin Kings, who also got a big boost from Japeth Aguilar, Norbert Torres, Jayson David and RJ Abarrientos.
Aguilar finished with 14 markers and six rebounds, Torres shot two crucial three-pointers in the fourth period on his way to 13 points, while David and Abarrientos scored 12 and 11, respectively.
It was another disaster for nine-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo on the offensive end after only coming up with nine points on a measly 3-for-14 shooting from the field.
Fajardo, who is nursing a left shoulder injury, had 20 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block to boot, though.
Jayson David also steps up for the Ginebra Gin Kings in Game 4 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
It looked like San Miguel was set for an early breakaway after Cjay Perez and Chris Ross shot four three-pointers each to fuel the squad's 36-26 lead in the first quarter.
But Ginebra quickly flipped the script with a 30-19 second quarter output.
Perez led San Miguel with 22 points, three rebounds and three assists. Ross backed him up with 20 markers.
Both players finished with five triples each.
Jericho Cruz submitted 15 points, while Don Trollano could not follow up on his 33-point outburst in Game 3 and ended up with only eight points this time.
The two teams meet again in a crucial Game 5 duel set Wednesday, Jan. 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
Ginebra vs. San Miguel Scores:
Ginebra 105 – Thompson 35, J.Aguilar 14, Torres 13, David 12, Abarrientos 11, Cu 7, Rosario 6, Holt 4, Pinto 3, R.Aguilar 0
San Miguel 91 – Perez 22, Ross 20, Cruz 15, Fajardo 9, Trollano 8, Brondial 7, Tautuaa 5, Cahilig 3, Rosales 2, Lassiter 0, Tiongson 0, Teng 0
Quarterscores: 26-36, 56-55, 72-75, 105-91
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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.