By REYNALD MAGALLON
Maverick Ahanmisi flirted with a triple-double and drained a big trey down the stretch as Barangay Ginebra weathered a fourth quarter explosion from Andrei Caracut to dodge the upset axe of Rain or Shine, 107-102, in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, Nov. 24.
With the Elasto Painters playing with fire in their eyes after struggling at the bottom of the standings, the Kings leaned on the big baskets delivered by Ahanmisi and Christian Standhardinger to get their title bid back on track.
Ahanmisi was an assist shy of a triple-double, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. His backcourt partner, Scottie Thompson also came two assists short of his triple-double mark, scattering 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
With Ginebra holding on to a precarious one-point lead, 100-99, Ahanmisi emerged as the zone buster and punished the Elasto Painters’ defense with a booming triple from top of the key with 54 seconds left before Standhardinger created more breathing room enough to cushion a last ditch effort from Rain or Shine.
Caracut, who exploded for 32 points – 18 of which he unloaded in the final frame, refused to raise the white flag just yet after burying another big trey to keep Rain or Shine within three, 102-105.
They managed to trap Kings import Tony Bishop on the backcourt resulting in a steal for Gabe Norwood but he fell short on his fadeaway jumper as Ginebra escaped with the big win.
Standhardinger posted 19 points and 11 rebounds while Bishop topscored with 25 points that went with 12 boards.
Caracut, who had an efficient outing after shooting 11-of-17 from the field including four triples, also added five assists to a career night that saw him become the lowest drafted player to finish with 32 points since 2015.
Rain or Shine import Dajuan Summers chipped in 25 points but he fired a measly 8-of-23 clip from the field including a miserable 4-of-14 from deep.
Meantime, Phoenix soared to its first win streak of the season, fending off a gritty Blackwater team, 111-106.
Javee Mocon, Jason Perkins and rookie Ricci Rivero delivered the telling blows for the Fuel Masters in the endgame, keeping the Bossing at bay en route to the second straight win for a 3-1 record, enough for a solo second in the standings.
Perkins led the way for Phoenix with 23 points and eight rebounds while import Jonathan Williams came two assists away from recording a triple-double with his 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
RJ Jazul and Rivero led the bench scoring for the Fuel Masters with 19 and 14 points, respectively, while Mocon added 13.
Phoenix led by as many as 13 points in the first half but Blackwater managed to keep in step behind a strong third quarter showing anchored on import Chris Ortiz who put up 35 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
