Barangay Ginebra’s Sidney Onwubere. –PBA ON TOUR
Barangay Ginebra escaped with an 81-80 overtime victory over Blackwater after a thrilling finish to their PBA On Tour game on Wednesday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Sidney Onwubere scored 25 points, including a tip-in with 43.5 seconds remaining in the extension, as the Gin Kings produced a rare win after starting the exhibition series by losing three of the first four.
But acting coach Richard del Rosario and the rest of his Ginebra crew endured some tense moments in the waning moments after Blackwater’s Tyrus Hill was sent to the free throw line after being fouled with a fraction of a second to go.
Hill, however, couldn’t convert his two attempts as the Bossing lost for the third time in six games.
Onwubere also added 11 rebounds, including the last that resulted in the go-ahead basket, as he hopes to be among the regular Ginebra players who could crack into the main rotation before the season-opener in October.
Jeremiah Gray added 22 points despite a 7-of-21 shooting with eight rebounds, five assists and two steals for Ginebra.
James Sena scored 18 points while Troy Rosario posted 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Bossing in the loss.
Rosario’s layup put Blackwater ahead 77-75 late in the fourth, but Nards Pinto’s layup with 1.2 seconds to go sent the game to an extra session.
The scores:
GINEBRA 81—Onwubere 25, Gray 22, Pinto 13, Mariano 9, R.Aguilar 8, David 2, Pessumal 2, Dillinger 0, Salcedo 0, Cu 0, Gumaru 0, Aurin 0.
BLACKWATER 80—Sena 18, Rosario 12, Ilagan 10, McCarthy 10, DiGregorio 9, Casio 9, Ular 7, Hill 4, Suerte 1, Escoto 0, Ayonayon 0, Publico 0, Banal 0.
Quarters: 29-17, 47-38, 59-61, 77-77, 81-80.