RJ Abarrientos, Ginebra look to reassert PBA playoff mastery over Meralco in high-stakes Game 3

With a semifinals ticket on the line, Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel are determined to finish off the Meralco Bolts as they clash in a deciding Game 3 of their PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series on Sunday, Feb. 9.

The match begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

[RELATED STORY: Jansen Rios' inspired play powers Bolts' Game 2 win vs Ginebra: 'Dahil sa family, sa baby’]

The Gin Kings had a chance to sweep the series but fell short in Game 2, losing 108-104, allowing Meralco to force a winner-take-all showdown.

Ginebra could have sent the game into overtime, but RJ Abarrientos’ last-second four-point attempt just rimmed out.

However, what happened after the game became the bigger story.

[ALSO READ: PBA coordinates with NBI on RJ Abarrientos death threats post-Game 2, says Marcial]

Hours after the loss, Abarrientos took to Instagram to reveal he and his fiancée, Arlove de Jesus, received disturbing death threats from gamblers who allegedly lost money on Ginebra in Game 2.

The PBA has since condemned the threats, confirming that it has coordinated with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to track down those responsible and hold them accountable.

With the Gin Kings rallying behind their embattled young guard, expect an even more fired-up Ginebra squad in Game 3. Abarrientos, in particular, should have extra motivation to step up, aiming to silence the noise and prove his worth under playoff pressure.

Now facing a familiar foe in a do-or-die battle, Ginebra looks to once again show its championship DNA and move on to a highly-anticipated semifinal showdown against NorthPort Batang Pier.

[ALSO READ: Victolero expects more from rookie Jerom Lastimosa in coming PBA PH Cup: 'We need him badly’]

(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)

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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]