MANILA – Beau Belga and Jewel Ponferada came alive in crunch time for the Rain Or Shine Elasto Painters as the team nipped Barangay Ginebra in overtime, 85-82, in their Philippine Basketball Association battle at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Pampanga on Tuesday night.
With the game tied, 78-all, midway through the overtime period, Belga took over for the Elasto Painters, scoring five straight points to put them ahead, 83-78.
Stanley Pringle tried to save the Barangay after scoring on a quick layup to cut the lead down to three and even had a chance to tie the game anew, only that he missed a three-pointer in their next offensive.
The missed triple paved the way for Ponferada's own heroics as he retrieved the loose ball after Rey Nambatac fumbled it and put up a teardrop that went in for the dagger with only six seconds remaining.
Jeff Chan scored on a buzzer-beating layup for the final scoreline.
Belga finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, one block, and two steals for ROS, which got back to the win column, its fourth in the season, after losing for the first time in the hands of Alaska.
Mark Borboran added 16 points, five rebounds, and one steal.
Scottie Thompson's season-high 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks went down the drain as Ginebra fell for the second straight game despite a franchise record-tying 4-0 start.
Pringle put up 20 markers, seven boards, and six dimes.
In the first game, Alaska Aces needed a strong finish on both ends of the floor to take out Terrafirma Dyip, 99-96.
Down 95-96, the Aces scored the game's last four points while holding the Dyip scoreless for the last 2:37 of the game.
Eric Camson, however, had a chance to force overtime in the last play, although his three-pointer rimmed out as time expired.
Vic Manuel continues to be Alaska's main man off the bench, leading the team to its fourth win of the season with 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
Robbie Herndon added 12 points, four rebounds, and one assist off the bench.
CJ Perez's 25-point performance and Juami Tiongson's 21-point outburst were not enough as Terrafirma remains winless after five matches. (PNA)
