Barangay Ginebra denies Rain or Shine sweep of PBA Dubai games with 89-88 squeaker

Games today

Araneta Coliseum

4:15 p.m.- Meralco vs. Powerade

6:30 p.m.- Alaska vs. Talk ‘N Text

For the third straight game, the Barangay Ginebra Kings found themselves in another tight battle.

This time, the Kings found a way to escape as they survived the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 89-88, in the second of two out-of-the-country games of the 37th PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Al-Shabab Sports Clu in Dubai, UAE late Friday night.

Rain or Shine missed the chance of sweeping its Dubai- sojourn when import Duke Crews committed a telling mental lapse in the closing seconds of the game.

The Painters, who went into the game riding the crest of their 99-95 win over the Barako Bull Energy, battled from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and had a chance to steal the win in the final seconds.

With his team down by a hairline, Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao instructed his wards to call a timeout should they retain possession in the waning seconds.

The Painters came up with a big defensive stop when they forced Mike Cortez to miss a jumpshot in the final five seconds.

Duke Crews secured the defensive rebound but instead of following Guiao’s instruction, he threw an outlet pass to Gabe Norwood, whose desperation shot went awry.

Before leaving for Dubai, Ginebra absorbed a deflating 74-76 loss to the Alaska Aces . Before that two-point loss, the Kings barely survived the Petron Blaze Boosters.