Tenorio hits triple at the buzzer as Ginebra beats Star
Ginebra celebrates after LA Tenorio’s buzzer-beating triple propelled the Kings over the Star Hotshots in overtime. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
LA Tenorio nailed the buzzer-beating triple and Barangay Ginebra stunned Star, 92-89, Friday night in overtime to advance into the next phase of the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinals before a record crowd at Mall of Asia Arena.
Tenorio’s clutch 3-pointer came after his teammate Sol Mercado had muffed a wide-open buzzer-beating layup that would’ve won it for Ginebra in regulation.
“I’ve been through a lot of games and this is one of the most amazing ones,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone, who was still catching his breath as the Kings completed their comeback from 18 down in the fourth quarter and from 15 down in the last four minutes of regulation.
Mercado would’ve easily been the goat had Ginebra lost, but he was also instrumental in the rally — scoring all of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and OT with his fourth and final triple knotting the count at 89 with 1:16 remaining.
The Hotshots took a 72-54 buffer early in the fourth quarter and were on their way to forcing a do-or-die game with a 76-51 lead after James Yap’s step back jumper with 4:01 left.
At that point, a good number of the 21,808 fans in attendance, the most in a PBA game held at MOA Arena, headed for the exits.
Those who stayed, though, were treated to the best game of the season by far as the Kings extended the game into OT on a breakaway layup by Scottie Thompson off a steal by Tenorio on Mark Barroca.
PJ Simon had 17 points through three quarters while Barroca, whose free throws gave Star a five-point cushion, 80-75, in regulation, added 13, including six in OT.
Ginebra plays GlobalPort, which beat Barako Bull earlier, in the knockout quarterfinals stages.
