WHEN Stephen Holt stepped up for Barangay Ginebra’s dramatic 99-98 overtime triumph over the Converge FiberXers in their do-or-die quarterfinal match on Sunday, it was all just a regular day in the office for him.
Gin Kings’ coach Tim Cone said this after Ginebra forged a best-of-seven semifinal series against the San Miguel Beermen in the 50th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
“It’s not the first time for him (Holt). He’d been doing it all conference,” said Cone of Holt, who connected with a crucial buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer for the Kings during their encounter with the FiberXers at the Aranera Coliseum.
Holt had several standout performances for Ginebra in the past. He scored 27 points to earn Player of the Game honors in Ginebra’s 108-105 victory over the Titan Ultras during the eliminations.
Against TNT on November 3 last year, the former Terrafirma Dyip no. 1 rookie pick, scored 18 points, including a crucial late-game triple, for a 106-92 triumph that tied the 49th season Governors’ Cup finals series at 2-2.
Then, there’s a 30-point outing on October 9, also last year, in a Kings’ victory over the Beermen during the Governors’ Cup semis.
With Ginebra now in the semis for the 32nd time in league history, Cone feels that the teams needs to be at the “very top of our game” to have a chance to make it past Beermen. Peter Atencio
The top-seeded Beermen officially secured a semifinal berth after stopping the NLEX Road Warriors, 101-94, on Christmas Day for their 10th consecutive win.
“That’s why we’re staying with Holt in the end because he’s gonna step up at some point. And boy, did he step up tonight. Wow,” said Cone, adding that Holt reminded him of Jojo Lastimosa when he was still playing for him with the Alaska Aces.
Back then, Lastimosa used to struggle all game long, but always came up with big plays in the end.
“Jojo was great player. But whenever he struggles, he would come up big in some capacity. And that’s why we stayed with Stephen because I knew he’s gonna step up,” said Cone.
Holt went on to finish with nine points and eight rebounds, with RJ Abarrientos leading with 20 points.
