WATCH: Maverick Ahanmisi Highlights [Brgy. Ginebra vs Blackwater | Nov. 26, 2023]
PBA Season 48 Commissioner's Cup
Brgy. Ginebra secured yet another impressive comeback victory, narrowly escaping defeat against the Blackwater Bossing with a final score of 90-87 in the 2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the PhilSports Arena on Sunday, November 26.
Once again, the crowd darlings showcased their unwavering determination by overcoming a 17-point deficit in the first quarter. Their resilience paid off as Japeth Aguilar made a crucial block, sealing the victory and improving their record to 3-1.
In the dying seconds of the game, Bossing’s import Chris Ortiz attempted a three-pointer to force overtime, only to have it emphatically rejected by Aguilar just before the final buzzer.
Tony Bishop, who has been stepping up in the absence of Ginebra’s resident import Justin Brownlee, delivered an outstanding performance with 25 points and 11 rebounds in 43 minutes of play.
“We only had one day to prepare from the last game, so it was not hard to get in and get down and dirty on what you need to improve and get better at,” said Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone shortly after the match.
“It was a struggle again for us, but in some ways it was good for us since it was a tough game.”
Blackwater came out strong in the game, shooting an impressive 59% from the field in the first quarter. They made 13 out of 22 field goals, including 7 three-pointers.
With just 14 seconds left in the first quarter, Mike DiGregorio hit a corner three-pointer to give the Bossing their largest lead of the game at 36-19.