Ginebra guns down Meralco for 12th PBA title
Credit to Author: Josef T. Ramos, TMT| Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2020 17:14:56 +0000
Barangay Ginebra San Miguel scored a 105-93 win over Meralco via a blazing fourth-quarter run to capture the Season 44 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup crown in Game 5 of their best-of-seven championship series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City late Friday.
Ginebra shook off a sluggish first two quarters to forge ahead in the fourth on the stellar plays of the high-leaping Japeth Aguilar and tenacious Scottie Thompson.
It was the Gin Kings’ 12th PBA title and their third Governors’ Cup crown in four years.
Aguilar was named the Finals Most Valuable Player after finishing with an average of 17.4 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. He had 25 points and eight rebounds to lead the Gin Kings on Friday. Justin Brownlee contributed 24 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists.
From 77-all in the last eight minutes, Ginebra sprang to life with a 22-9 run, highlighted by the three-point play of Aguilar and Thompson that gave Ginebra an insurmountable 99-86 lead in the last 2:45 minutes.
Aguilar scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The Gin Kings did not relinquish their advantage until the final buzzer. Ginebra wrapped up the series, 4-1, in front of 15,146 wildly cheering fans.
“I felt at halftime, when we were able to bring down their lead to six, that we had a chance to come back and win this basketball game,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, who has won his 22nd PBA title as coach. “I just felt that we didn’t play a good first half.”
“Our guys played great so what can I say? We beat a team like Meralco three straight times.”
The Gin Kings rallied from a 14-point deficit (25-39) to grab the lead, 66-60, behind the triples of LA Tenorio and Joe Devance plus the running jumper of Brownlee with 2:44 remaining in the third period.
Stanley Pringle contributed 17 points and eight assists for the win while Thompson had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists. LA Tenorio chipped in 12 points also for Ginebra.
The Bolts started the game on a bright note, controlling the first two quarters. Meralco established a 39-25 lead after Allein Maliksi’s basket with 5:54 left in the second quarter.
But the Gin Kings narrowed the gap, 40-46, at the half.
The Bolts squandered a chance to tie at 77-all early in the fourth period as Brownlee took charge in the remaining minutes.
After playing despite a meniscus tear in his left knee in Game 4, Raymond Almazan skipped Game 5 on the advice of the Bolts’ medical staff. Almazan suffered the injury in Game 3.
“Sayang about Raymond Almazan’s injury, but you know, we’re battling for a championship, and we are not going to feel sorry for the other team. We are just going to go out and take advantage whatever we can. We have to look at it as an opportunity,” added Cone.
“Obviously, that was a big turn in the series. Cliff Hodge also got injured; so, they were down a couple of big men. It gives Durham a lot of pressure to carry the team. Otherwise, I think it would have gone to seven games. But again, we are fighting for championship; so, we’ll take it,” he said.
Allen Durham finished with 29 points, 21 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Bolts.
Baser Amer had 17 points and Chris Newsome, 13. But their efforts were not enough to save the day for the Bolts.
Scores:
Ginebra, 105 – Aguilar, 25; Brownlee, 24; Pringle, 17; Thompson, 14; Tenorio, 12; Mariano, 6; Devance, 3; Dela Cruz, 2’ Slaughter 2; and Dillinger 0
Meralco, 93 – Durham, 29; Amer, 17; Newsome, 13; Hodge, 10; Quinto, 9; Maliksi, 9; Faundo, 2; Pinto, 2; Caram, 2; Salva 0
Quarterscores: 19-26, 40-46, 70-64 and 105-93