MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra played true to form in dealing Phoenix a 106-89 shellacking to keep its playoff hopes alive in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Scottie Thompson delivered an all-around performance of 29 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Import Jordan Murphy added 28 and 12 rebounds, while Japeth Aguilar 12 and 10 for Ginebra, which moved to fourth spot in Group B with its 4-5 record.
Playoff-bound Magnolia leads the pack at Group B with its 6-3 record, followed by Rain or Shine at 5-3, which Phoenix dropping to 5-4 with the loss.
Ginebra can lock the fourth and final spot at Group B when it goes for the win against Blackwater at the end of the elims on Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Marcellus Earlington led Phoenix with 22 points and nine rebounds.
Meanwhile, Converge hammered out a narrow 114-112 overtime win against defending champion to seal the third seed in Group B heading to the playoffs.
Alec Stockton scored 19 points, including five straight points in regulation play to send the game to overtime.
Big man Jonnel Policarpio then put in the game-clinching basket with a follow up off Stockton’s missed layup to shatter the 112-112 count with 11.3 seconds to go.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson missed his potential game-tying two-point attempt, allowing Converge to escape with the win.
“We just wanted to have the mentality of not giving up whether we’re down or we’re up,” said Stockton after the game.
“We just wanted to keep our foot on the gas all throughout the game,” he added Converge secured the third seeding in Group A with its 8-4 record while TNT settled for the fourth seed in the pool with a 7-5 card.
