Ginebra big man Troy Rosario in action. PBA Images
MANILA — Barangay Ginebra has now won four in a row in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner's Cup.
The Gin Kings outdueled Blackwater, 115-108, on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With the Bossing knocking on Ginebra's door late, after a Sedrick Barefield four-pointer, 110-108, Nards Pinto helped shut it out with a huge trey for a 113-108 advantage, 2:10 left on the fourth quarter clock.
Stephen Holt made the extra dish to Pinto, who had all sorts of time to make his shot from the arc.
RJ Abarrientos foiled his shot attempts from the same distance, but thankfully for them, Robert Upshaw III missed as well from the second arc.
Punishing that Upshaw miss, Troy Rosario found the breakaway layup from a Scottie Thompson pass from the other side of the court to erect a 115-108 cushion.
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Paul Christian Zamar was later forced to commit a turnover, suffering a traveling violation at the 32.3-second mark that wasted Blackwater's possession, as Ginebra went away with the win.
The Gin Kings survived Upshaw III's 43-point explosion that went with 14 rebounds.
Six Ginebra players were in twin-digit scoring territory, led by Justin Brownlee who had 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Thompson also delivered 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
Abarrientos made his presence felt as well, finishing with 18 points and seven assists, as Rosario had a double-double of 17 markers and 10 boards.
Holt and Japeth Aguilar completed the supporting cast, contributing 13 and 11 points, respectively.
Helping Upshaw in the Blackwater firepower was Barefield, who had 25 markers and 12 dimes. The Bossing could not follow up their stunning win over San Miguel in their last playing date as they absorbed their sixth loss.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 115 – Brownlee 21, Thompson 19, Abarrientos 18, Rosario 17, Holt 13, J.Aguilar 11, Pinto 5, Gray 4, Cu 3, Go 2, Torres 2
BLACKWATER 108 – Upshaw III 43, Barefield 25, David 15, Andrade 8, Zamar 6, Tratter 5, Escoto 2, Una 2, Austria 2
QUARTERS: 16-26, 50-42, 85-78, 115-108