PBA: Stephen Holt hits game-winning triple vs Converge as Barangay Ginebra reaches semis

Barangay Ginebra advanced to the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals with a dramatic 99-98 overtime victory over Converge, sealed by a Stephen Holt buzzer-beating three-pointer. With less than eight seconds left in overtime and trailing 98-96, Holt's clutch shot ended the do-or-die quarterfinal.

The game was tightly contested throughout regulation. Ginebra held a slim 80-77 lead late in the fourth quarter before Converge's Archie Concepcion and Juan Gomez de Liaño scored consecutive baskets to take the lead. After a foul sent RJ Abarrientos to the line for three free throws, which he made, Gomez de Liaño answered with a three-point play to put Converge up 84-83. Converge then extended their lead to 86-83 after free throws from Kevin Racal, but a foul on Jeremiah Gray's three-point attempt sent him to the line, where he made all three free throws to tie the game and force overtime at 86-86.

In overtime, Converge built a 95-89 lead behind a Gomez de Liaño four-point play. Ginebra chipped away with free throws from Abarrientos and a clutch three-pointer from Troy Rosario to pull within one point. After Converge's Justine Baltazar split a pair of free throws to make it 98-96, Holt hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone praised his team's resilience and Converge's effort. Key performers for Ginebra included RJ Abarrientos with 20 points, Scottie Thompson and Jayson David with 13 points each, and Troy Rosario with a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds.