PBA Finals: Ginebra pulls away to beat TNT in Game 3, regains series lead
Barangay Ginebra guard Stanley Pringle. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Barangay Ginebra knocked down the long ball in the fourth quarter to pull away from TNT and regain command of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals with a 117-103 win on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Gin Kings shook off the Tropang Giga rally earlier in the period with Jamie Malonzo and import Justin Brownlee firing from deep to secure a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Stanley Pringle had a perfect shooting night to emerge among the stars in Ginebra’s victory that coach Tim Cone’s wards two wins shy of claiming a third successive title in the season-ending conference.
“We shot the ball really well tonight in different angles led by, of course, Stanley. He kept us in the game, got us ahead and kept us in the game during the first half and gave big shots in the second half,” said Cone.
Ginebra hopes to put a stranglehold on the title showdown with another win on Sunday at the same venue.
Brownlee dropped 29 in a huge recovery from a 3-of-16 shooting and just 12 points in Ginebra’s 95-82 loss in Game 2.
Barangay Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Malonzo hit six threes on his way to 27 points alongside 10 rebounds while Pringle capitalized on being tapped as starter for the first time this conference and scored 22 on a perfect 7-of-7 from the field.
Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Mikey Williams and Poy Erram produced strong numbers but TNT lost steam after tying the game at 88-all in the final canto.
Hollis-Jefferson had 32 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, Williams dropped 19 and Erram finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for the Tropang Giga.
The scores:
GINEBRA 117—Brownlee 29, Malonzo 27, Pringle 22, Thompson 16, Standhardinger 16, Gray 5, J.Aguilar 2, Mariano 0, Pinto 0, Onwubere 0.
TNT 103—Hollis-Jefferson 32, Williams M. 19, Erram 14, Castro 14, Pogoy 13, Khobuntin 6, Oftana 3, Tungcab 2, Marcelo 0, Montalbo 0.
Quarters: 29-19, 57-57, 87-81, 117-103.
