Brgy. Ginebra def Magnolia, 95-92 [PBA S49 Comm’s Cup | Dec. 25, 2024]
Scottie Thompson delivered a stunning buzzer-beater, draining a corner three off an assist from RJ Abarrientos to propel Barangay Ginebra to a thrilling 95-92 victory over Magnolia on Christmas Day in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Thompson’s clutch shot capped off a remarkable comeback for the Gin Kings, who had rallied from a staggering 22-point deficit. Abarrientos was pivotal in this turnaround, showcasing the indomitable Ginebra spirit by contributing significantly to the team’s resurgence.
Abarrientos embodied the ‘Never Say Die’ philosophy, finishing with an impressive 20 points, including a scorching 17 in the second half when Ginebra found itself trailing 76-54 at the midway point of the third quarter.
With this victory, Barangay Ginebra improved to 4-2 on the season, successfully avoiding a two-game losing streak as they navigate through their 2024 campaign.
Magnolia, on the other hand, fell to 2-5, suffering its fifth loss in the last six outings.
Justin Brownlee was also instrumental for Ginebra, hitting critical shots down the stretch, including a pivotal three-pointer that gave the Gin Kings a narrow 92-90 lead with just over two minutes remaining after Ricardo Ratliffe had briefly put Magnolia ahead.
In a nail-biting finish, Rome Dela Rosa converted a short jumper with 22.9 seconds left to level the score, but Thompson was unfazed, sealing the win with a sensational shot in front of a raucous crowd of 12,198 fans, most of whom were fervently supporting Ginebra.
Troy Rosario made his Christmas Clasico debut, contributing 15 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks alongside Abarrientos, while Scottie Thompson added 14 points to the winning effort.
For Magnolia, Ricardo Ratliffe posted a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, battling Brownlee fiercely throughout the fourth quarter. Mark Barroca chipped in 13 points, while teammates Paul Lee and Ian Sangalang added 11 points each, but it wasn’t enough as Magnolia fell to 1-5 in Christmas Clasico history.
