Barangay Ginebra’s Aljon Mariano. –PBA IMAGES
Aljon Mariano came through down the stretch to cap off Barangay Ginebra’s 114-106 comeback victory over Terrafirma in the PBA On Tour on Friday at Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Mariano scored back-to-back baskets with less than two minutes remaining which enabled the Gin Kings to pull away and eventually record a third consecutive victory and go 4-3 in the exhibition series.
He finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three steals in a performance that Ginebra hopes could be a sign of being a major part of the Ginebra rotation come the 48th season in mid-October.
Sidney Onwubere had 20 points while Jeremiah Gray and Donald Gumaru added 16 apiece in another come-from-behind triumph for Ginebra.
Javi Gomez de Liano’s 23 points went for naught as Terrafirma lost back-to-back games to fall 3-5.
Terrafirma overcame a 10-point deficit midway in the third to take the lead at 89-82 going into the final period.
But Ginebra came back in the fourth to turn the contest into a seesaw affair, before orchestrating a big windup after Terrafirma went up 106-102 with over three minutes left.
Von Pessumal’s three and Gray’s jumper put Ginebra on top before Mariano made those consecutive baskets to make it 111-106, time down to 58.3 left.
The scores:
GINEBRA 114—Mariano 25, Onwubere 20, Pessumal 17, Gray 16, Gumaru 15, David 11, Dillinger 4, Pinto 3, Salcedo 2.
TERRAFIRMA 106—Gomez de Liano 23, Alolino 16, Camson 13, Go 13, Daquioag 13, Taladua 9, Calvo 9, Mina 6, Grospe 2, Alanes 2.
Quarters: 22-32, 60-59, 82-89, 114-106.