PBA: RJ Abarrientos drops career-high 35, tows Ginebra past Converge to force do-or-die QF match

RJ Abarrientos scored a career-high 35 points to lead Barangay Ginebra to a 105-85 victory over Converge on Christmas Day at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, forcing a decisive Game 3 in their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal series.

Abarrientos was highly efficient, making 12 of his 18 field goal attempts and hitting six three-pointers. After a quiet first half with only five points, he ignited in the second half, scoring 11 points in the third quarter as Ginebra took a 70-64 lead. He then scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, including four three-pointers, to help Ginebra pull away decisively in the final minutes.

Head coach Tim Cone praised Abarrientos's explosive scoring ability, comparing his hot streak to that of Steph Curry. Cone revealed he had encouraged Abarrientos to be more aggressive in looking for his shot after the first half, which the player answered emphatically.

For Ginebra, Japeth Aguilar contributed 16 points, while Scottie Thompson recorded a triple-double with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. For Converge, Justine Baltazar led the way with a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Schonny Winston added 14 points.