Ginebra Sweeps Meralco Bolts to Advance to Semis: RJ, Scottie, and Holt Take Charge in the 4th Quarter

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel secured their spot in the PBA semi-finals with an impressive victory over the Meralco Bolts, completing a clean sweep of the quarterfinals series in Game 3. The game, held in front of an electrifying crowd, saw Ginebra’s key players RJ Abarientos, Scottie Thompson, and Stephen Holt lead a thrilling comeback in the decisive fourth quarter.

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Early Battle: A Close Start

The first quarter started with a strong performance from Meralco’s Bong Quinto, who put up seven points early on, helping the Bolts stay ahead. However, Ginebra quickly responded with Scottie Thompson’s aggressive attacks and Japeth Aguilar’s slam dunk, keeping the score tight. Despite Chris Newsome and Cliff Hodge combining for 11 points, RJ Abarientos answered back with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, ending the quarter at a close 28-27.

Meralco Takes the Lead in the Second Quarter

In the second quarter, Allen Durham took over for Meralco, dominating both inside and outside the paint. His unstoppable scoring streak led Meralco to a 9-point lead, with 18 points under his belt by halftime. Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee of Ginebra was relatively quiet, and the team found themselves trailing 56-47 at the break.

Ginebra’s Adjustments in the Third Quarter

The third quarter saw Ginebra adjust their strategy by placing RJ Abarientos in the starting five. RJ’s assists and Scottie Thompson’s three-pointer closed the gap, but Meralco managed to push the lead back to double digits, thanks to Quinto’s three-point shots. However, foul trouble began to catch up with Meralco, particularly for Hodge, allowing Ginebra to narrow the deficit to 81-74 by the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter Takeover

The final quarter belonged to Ginebra. RJ Abarientos took control, scoring seven crucial points and hitting a clutch “and-one” play that shifted the momentum in Ginebra’s favor, putting them ahead 94-97. As Stephen Holt and Scottie Thompson sank back-to-back three-pointers, the Ginebra crowd erupted, pushing their team to a 7-point lead at 115-98. Despite a late push by Meralco with consecutive free throws and Anjo Caram’s 4-point shot, Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar sealed the victory with decisive plays in the final minutes.

Conclusion: Ginebra Moves On to the Semi-Finals

The final score of 115-102 marked a hard-fought but well-deserved victory for Barangay Ginebra, who now advance to the semi-finals. With RJ Abarientos, Scottie Thompson, and Stephen Holt showcasing their talents, Ginebra’s fans have every reason to be excited for the next stage of the competition.