HIS DEFINING MOMENT
Stephen Holt thought for some time before recalling the last time he hit a game-winning shot moments after sending Barangay Ginebra to the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup when he keyed a 99-98 overtime victory over Converge.
Buzzer beaters are supposed to be big, especially in a knockout setting like that on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that had the Gin Kings bundling out the young FiberXers to make the Final Four of the centerpiece tournament.
But one coming from a battle between a doormat like Terrafirma—where Holt was plucked from a trade two seasons ago—and NorthPort, the beefy guard did some thinking.
“Maybe going back to my first season with Terrafirma against NorthPort,” Holt told the Inquirer on the heels of the dramatic win.
It was an elimination round win in the 2024 Philippine Cup when he drove past Joshua Munzon for the layup that also paved the way for Terrafirma to make a dream run to the playoffs.
Holt added that he probably hit a few more during his pro stints in Europe, but none as big as the one that saved Ginebra from an early vacation.
Given what’s at stake and the manner in which Ginebra won, Holt just came up with his defining PBA moment.
“Right now, I feel like that’s the biggest shot that I have (made),” said Holt.
Ginebra fans were in sheer delight over the way it was able to arrange a semifinal showdown with sister team San Miguel Beer, just as when it looked like it was Converge that was moving forward.
The FiberXers led by three late in regulation, but Jeremiah Gray was fouled from the corner side of the three-point arc by Alec Stockton, knocking all three free throws to force overtime.
And it looked as if Converge was on the verge of getting the job done about 90 seconds to go in the extension when Juan Gomez de Liaño connected on a four-point shot to make it 96-90.
Gomez de Liaño would later make a gesture that some say are usually done by Gen Zs before doing a thumbs down sign, prompting some to interpret it as if he’s signaling that Converge had the game in the bag.
But in true “Never Say Die” spirit, Ginebra found a way to win.
“We were lucky,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone. “They outplayed us, they outcoached us. We were very lucky.”
Lucky indeed, especially with Ginebra losing both Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar to fouls. It was the Gin Kings’ seventh straight win after going 2-4 midway through the elimination phase.
That momentum will come in handy against a San Miguel team that topped the eliminations but is on a 10-game winning run since a 0-2 start.
“That’s just true NSD spirit,” said Holt. “I think you can see the last three, four games, we don’t quit and I think that’s the most important thing about this group.”
Despair on other side
While it was sheer joy at the Ginebra camp, there was sheer despair on the Converge side as a first-ever semifinals berth slipped out of its hands.
And the loss allowed Ginebra fans to troll on Gomez de Liaño following his gesture. Gomez de Liaño was in disbelief moments after the defeat, later approaching his older brother Javi and Holt to give him his flowers.
His maiden conference ended rather quickly in Juan Gomez de Liaño’s mind.
“Bitin,” he said. “I didn’t get the job done. I’m here to win a championship [but] we fell short, so that’s on me.”
For now, Gomez de Liaño will take things as a learning lesson for the next conference. Meanwhile, Holt will be celebrating and when the time comes that a reporter asks him for the biggest shot he has ever made, he wouldn’t think long to come up with the one he hit on Sunday.
