BY REYNALD MAGALLON
Scottie Thompson made sure to give Ginebra and its legion of fans a fitting Christmas Day gift.
The do-it-all guard delivered the big hits down the stretch as Barangay Ginebra completed a huge come-from-behind 86-78 win over TNT to formally clinch a spot in the quarterfinals in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Monday, Dec. 25.
With the Kings uncharacteristically struggling from deep, Thompson drained back-to-back triples which proved to be the dagger against a hard-fighting Tropang Giga who missed the services of import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and veteran guard Jayson Castro.
Ginebra was shooting 1-of-15 from the three-point territory before Thompson’s big hits but the Kings still went on to win the contest despite a season low in three-pointers made and percentage.
The Kings, though, are definitely taking the win regardless of how it went especially after they improved their record to 6-3 and kept them in the hunt for the Top 4 and the twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Thompson wound up with an all-around effort of 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists that also preserved a double-double showing from Christian Standhardinger who had 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Import Tony Bishop also posted 15 points, 12 rebounds and six assists to help the Kings erase a 13-point deficit in the first half. Maverick Ahanmisi and Japeth Aguilar also had 11 apiece.
Romeo fired 15 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter when the Beermen unloaded 34 points against the Fuel Masters’ 19 to tear a once tight ball game apart and pick up the team’s third straight win.
SMB improved to a 6-3 record, good for a spot inside the Top 4 which dangles a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
Romeo not only scored in the final frame but also found his open teammates to finish with eight assists while orchestrating the back-breaking 18-3 run that turned a close 96-90 lead into a massive 117-93 advantage heading into the final minutes.
New SMB import Bennie Boatwright made a good account of himself in his first PBA game, finishing with a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds while Romeo’s backcourt running mate CJ Perez chipped in all-around numbers of 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
Jericho Cruz added 15 points while Don Trollano chipped in 12.
