King, Ross Ignite San Miguel’s Stunning Comeback to Force Ginebra Decider

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George King and Chris Ross pulled San Miguel back from the brink, powering a 22-0 third-quarter run in a 108-102 win over Barangay Ginebra on Friday, November 6, that forced a Game 5 in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals. The Beermen erased a 17-point deficit.

King scored 18 of his game-high 35 points and Ross scored 13 of his 20 in the third period, when San Miguel outscored Ginebra, 46-18, to turn a 44-61 hole into a lead it never surrendered. Ross also had six rebounds, nine assists and five steals.

George King scored a game-high 35 points, including 18 in the third quarter, as San Miguel rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Barangay Ginebra, 108-102. [Peter Baltazar photo]

King and Ross Spark Rally

San Miguel trailed 44-61 early in the third quarter and was one loss from elimination in the best-of-five series. King and Ross then took over, igniting a 22-0 burst that flipped the game.

Ginebra mounted a stirring fightback, cutting a 19-point deficit to three, 105-102. King and Ross then made the clinching free throws inside the final 21 seconds.

Leo Austria praised Ross, who had averaged just 2.7 points in the series entering Game 4. “Chris Ross during the playoffs is a different animal,” Austria said.

Austria said Ross was focused and delivered a lot, especially when the Beermen were chasing Ginebra. “He’s the key, he’s the leader of the team and he knows what to do,” he added.

“We haven’t done nothing yet, we just evened the series,” Ross said. He matched the season-best output he posted against Ginebra in the last Philippine Cup semifinals.

Ginebra Falters

Scottie Thompson led Ginebra with 27 points and 11 rebounds, a role reversal as Jordan Murphy was held below 20 points for a second straight game. Murphy still hauled in 22 rebounds.

Murphy was limited to two points the rest of the way after giving Ginebra a 61-44 lead early in the third period. RJ Abarrientos, who averaged 19.7 points in the first three games, went 2-of-13 from the field for seven points.

The Beermen forced the decider at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Game 5 is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Ynares Center-Antipolo, with the winner facing early semifinalist TNT in another race-to-three series.

For Ross, a do-or-die game is expected when the Beermen and Gin Kings collide in the playoffs. “That’s usually how it goes when we play Ginebra,” he said, adding that the rivals usually go to a Game 6 or 7.