MANILA – Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings ended their thirst for an All-Filipino crown following an 82-78 triumph over TNT Tropang Giga in Game 5 of their 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup finals at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga last night.
Japeth Aguilar tallied career-high 32 points to go with nine rebounds, three steals and two assists as the Kings wrapped up their best-of-seven series at 4-1.
Stanley Pringle added 13 markers, including three outside conversions, while LA Tenorio contributed 10 points and six assists. He was later hailed as this season’s Most Valuable Player.
This was Barangay Ginebra’s first All-Filipino Conference championship since 2007 under then head coach Joseph Uichico. Overall, it was the franchise’s 13th PBA title.
While Aguilar was the hero for almost the entire game for the Kings, it was Pringle who drained pivotal three-point baskets down the stretch that turned a 68-73 deficit to a 76-73 advantage with over three minutes left.
It was all Barangay Ginebra since then as Aguilar and Joe Devance converted back-to-back hits to make it 80-73. TNT made its last push at 77-80 with eight seconds left before Tenorio iced the win for the Kings with two free throws.
“We really did not have a lot of expectations entering the bubble but the players found their ways to win,” said Kings head coach Tim Cone. “It was an awesome experience for Barangay Ginebra. I am proud of them.”
Playing with an undermanned roster, the Tropang Giga showed determination early as they surge to a 17-10 start behind John Paul Erram. But the Kings responded with triples from Tenorio, Jeffrei Chan and Prince Caperal to even things up at 19-all.
TNT regained the upperhand early in the second period at 25-19 before the Kings went on a huge tear behind Aguilar to level the count at 31-all before he pushed the Gin Kings ahead 38-36 at the half.
The Tropang Giga once again gained headways in the third quarter at 48-41 on consecutive points by Roger Pogoy. Baskets from Thompson and Aguilar allowed the Kings to take a 52-50 edge before TNT ended the quarter on top at 56-55.
The Kings seemed ready to pull away in the fourth quarter with Pringle steering them to a 68-62 advantage, but the Tropang Giga answered with 9-0 blast behind Pogoy and back-to-back triples by Simon Enciso to take the lead for the last time at 73-68.
Pogoy finished the match with 23 points, Erram added double-double 18 points and 15 rebounds while Enciso and Jeth Troy Rosario contributed 17 and 12 markers respectively for the Tropang Giga.
BOX SCORE:
GINEBRA 82 – J. Aguilar 32, Pringle 13, Tenorio 10, Dillinger 8, Thompson 6, Mariano 5, Chan 3, Caperal 3, Devance 2, Tolentino 0.
TNT 78 – Pogoy 23, Erram 18, Enciso 17, Rosario 12, De Leon 6, Vosotros 2, Carey 0, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, Washington 0.
QUARTERSCORES:
Q1, 19-19; Q2, 38-36; Q3, 55-56; Q4, 82-78./PN
