Barangay Ginebra once again leaned on its flair for the dramatic, surviving Converge in an overtime nail-biter to punch another ticket to the semifinals of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
The Gin Kings escaped with a heart-stopping 99–98 victory Sunday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum, capped by a cold-blooded, step-back three from Stephen Holt as time expired in overtime. It was the kind of finish Ginebra fans have come to expect—and opponents have learned to dread.
“It’s miraculous to me,” said coach Tim Cone, still shaking his head after yet another escape act that sends Ginebra into a familiar spot: the Final Four, and another collision course with San Miguel Beer.
Converge had Ginebra reeling more than once, applying pressure with crisp execution and timely shot-making. Yet every time the FiberXers threatened to pull away, the Kings found a response. The final and cruelest came off Holt’s hand, burying Converge at the buzzer after a night where his shot struggled to fall—until it mattered most.
“Credit to Converge, they showed a lot of resilience,” Holt said. “But the Ginebra ‘Never Say Die’ spirit continues.”
The comeback script was written well before the final shot. Jeremiah Gray forced overtime by calmly sinking three free throws with 3.4 seconds left in regulation after an ill-timed foul. In the extra period, Converge surged ahead 95–89 on a booming four-point play by Juan Gomez de Liano, seemingly tilting the game their way.
Instead, RJ Abarrientos and Troy Rosario answered with clutch baskets of their own, dragging Ginebra back into striking distance despite losing Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar to foul trouble. That set the stage for Holt’s winner—and another chapter in Ginebra lore.
“We didn’t really play well,” Cone admitted, “but we just kept battling and kept fighting.”
The victory completed a turnaround that began with Ginebra’s earlier blowout win to force the do-or-die game against their twice-to-beat, fourth-seeded rivals. Overcoming that disadvantage, the Kings are now headed to their eighth straight semifinals.
Next up is a best-of-seven showdown with top seed San Miguel Beer, beginning January 4—a rivalry renewed, once more fueled by Ginebra’s uncanny ability to survive when it matters most.