Never Say Die: Ginebra overcomes Rain or Shine to advance to semifinals

Vernon Macklin scored the last four points of the game, including the marginal free throws to lead Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to an 81-79 victory over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Monday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Gin Kings import scored on a tip-in to tie the game with under a minute left, before making two pressure-packed free throws with 11 seconds in the game to help Ginebra complete a quarterfinals upset over the second-seed Elasto Painters.

Rain or Shine had several opportunities to at least tie the game. But Macklin blocked Jeff Chan’s layup attempt with six seconds left.

The Elasto Painters drew up a play that freed up Paul Lee for a corner three-pointer that missed. Rain or Shine got a couple of offensive rebounds, but point-blank attempts by Chan and Gabe Norwood failed to hit the mark, leaving the mammoth crowd of 12,764 fans at the Big Dome in ecstasy as the final buzzer sounded.

Macklin finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists for Ginebra, which moves to the best-of-five semifinals against the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters.

Chris Tiu and Lee led Rain or Shine with 15 and 14 points apiece, while import Bruno Sundov battled foul trouble to finish with a quiet 12 points.

SOURCE: Interaksyon