PBA: Scottie Thompson catches fire, lifts Ginebra past Rain or Shine

MANILA, May 25 ------ Scottie Thompson and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel caught fire to torch the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 103-98, in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup semifinals before 13,524 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

Thompson drained five three-pointers to finish with 25 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two assists as the Gin Kings took a 2-1 lead over RoS in the best-of-seven affair. "Very crucial for us, big win for us, kasi pwedeng turning point 'to ng series. So throughout the game, we just lifted each other up sa defense and sa energy," said Thompson after Ginebra avoided a double-digit collapse in the fourth period.

Also starring was Justin Brownlee, who finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, while RJ Abarrientos added 17 markers, highlighted by three of Ginebra's 14 three-pointers. However, nothing was bigger than Thompson's crucial triple with over two minutes left, which re-extended Ginebra's lead to eight, 99-91, after Caelan Tiongson had earlier pulled RoS within five. While Jaylen Johnson hit a four-pointer in the final 14 seconds to bring the Elasto Painters back within three, 101-98, that proved to be the closest they could get as Stephen Holt iced the game from the free-throw line.

Holt finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, while Troy Rosario and Japeth Aguilar added nine and seven markers, respectively. Meanwhile, Johnson and Tiongson each scored 23 points to lead Rain or Shine's late surge, which nearly erased a 16-point deficit. Adrian Nocum added 17 points, four rebounds, and three assists, but also committed seven turnovers. Andrei Caracut provided an early spark, knocking down five of his seven triples in the first quarter en route to 15 points before going scoreless the rest of the way.

The Scores:

Ginebra 103 – Thompson 25, Brownlee 24, Abarrientos 17, Holt 9, Rosario 9, J.Aguilar 7, Gray 7, Cu 3, Pinto 0, Go 0, Torres 0.

Rain or Shine 98 – Tiongson 23, Johnson 23, Nocum 17, Caracut 15, Mamuyac 7, Clarito 5, David 3, Asistio 3, Malonzo 2, Santillan 0, Manaytay 0.

Quarterscores: 27-30, 48-56, 77-68, 103-98.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com