Japeth's buzzer-beater lifts Ginebra past SMB, one step away from finals

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel is one step away from a return to the finals after a thrilling 97-96 victory over San Miguel Beer at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

Japeth Aguilar's corner jumper trickled in with no time remaining to give the Gin Kings a 2-1 series lead in the best-of-five Governors' Cup semifinals.

"That was fun, that was a fun game," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. "It was a hard game, that was well fought.

Arwind Santos' jumper with about a minute left put the Beermen ahead, 96-95. After a San Miguel stop, Santos had the chance to seal the game with a fastbreak layup.

But he turned from hero to goat after missing the shot, allowing Ginebra on final crack at the basket, which Aguilar converted.

"Japeth was calm when he hit that shot," said Cone.

Rookie guard Scottie Thompson won player of the game honors for Ginebra after finishing with a triple-double of 12 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. 

Import Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 25 points, Aguilar had 22, while LA Tenorio chipped in 20.

The Gin Kings clobbered the Beermen in the assists department, 36-22, to make up for their paltry 5 of 29 shooting from behind the arc.

San Miguel leaned on import Elijah Millsap, who scored 24 points, whole Arwind Santis and Marcio Lassiter added 15 points each. Alex Cabagnot tallied 13 points, while June Mar Fajardo was limited to 11 points and 12 boards. Ronald Tubid and Chris Ross scored all of San Miguel's bench points with 10 and eight, respectively.

Ginebra has the chance to close it out in Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum. —JST, GMA News