Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Facing a 13-point deficit in the final two minutes, import Orlando Johnson tried to carry the beleaguered Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on his broad shoulders.
Johnson caught fire from downtown, uncorking all his four three-pointers in the hope that he could prop up the Gin Kings’ sagging fortunes.
But his 14-point outburst during the final stretch wasn’t enough to help Ginebra get over the hump. In the end, the Gin Kings succumbed to the Alaska Aces, 114-108, in their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup quarterfinal match Friday (June 26).
Read: Aces down Ginebra to secure 1st semis berth
Worse, the Gin Kings got the boot in the season-ending conference, extending their championship drought to eight years.
“It’s sad it had to end this way,” said a visibly frustrated Johnson, who finished with team-high 28 points.
Ginebra was, in fact, in cruise control for two and a half quarters, leading by as much as 16 points.
But Alaska, known for its fullcourt press that has most teams teetering on their heels, slowly cut the Gin Kings down to size.
Ginebra failed to fan the flames from there despite Johnson’s last-ditch heroics.
“I wish I got those looks in the first half,” Johnson, who was a dud in the first two quarters, said. “I felt we had a good pace but I wasn’t getting involved.”
But now that his PBA stint is over, the high-octane import, who impressed the league in his first three games with his offensive repertoire, is eyeing a comeback in the National Basketball Association (NBA).
“I’ll be back in the NBA,” said Johnson, who was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the 2012 draft.
