PBA: Stanley Pringle, Ginebra slip past Meralco for 1-0 semis lead

Ginebra Gin Kings guard Stanley Pringle during a PBA Philippine Cup semifinals game against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

Barangay Ginebra hit the long ball to wind up the third quarter before preventing any chances of a Meralco comeback to grab a 92-88 victory in Game 1 of their PBA Philippine Cup semifinal series Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Veteran Stanley Pringle scored a season-high 22 points, hitting key shots that kept the Bolts at bay as the Gin Kings bucked a seesaw first half to gain a headstart in the latest playoff showdown with one of their corporate rivals.

READ: PBA: Ginebra starting to click but facing injury woes

Rookie Ralph Cu, Maverick Ahanmisi and Christian Standhardinger were also key in Ginebra’s triumph.

Game 2 is set Sunday at the same venue, with the Gin Kings going for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven affair.

Ginebra Gin Kings’ Christian Standhardinger in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Chris Newsome had 21 points and 13 rebounds, but Meralco squandered an early lead in the third and fell short of trying to erase a 73-61 deficit entering the fourth.

Meralco went into halftime up 41-40 after scoring eight in a row to end the second, and even extend the gap to seven in the early moments of the third.

READ: PBA: Ginebra looks to work their way out of middle of the pack

But Pringle, Cu and Ahanmisi slowly led the Ginebra rally before knocking down four triples, ending with one from Scottie Thompson for that 73-61 lead.

Pringle kept hitting shots to keep Ginebra ahead as Meralco could only get as close as four in the fourth.

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Cu hit six threes for 18 points, Ahanmisi produced 15 points, six rebounds and three assists and Standhardinger added 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Ginebra.

PBA Scores:

GINEBRA 92—Pringle 22, Cu 18, J.Aguilar 17, Ahanmisi 15, Standhardinger 14, Thompson 5, Onwubere 1, Tenorio 0, Pinto 0.

MERALCO 88—Newsome 21, Banchero 15, Maliksi 13, Quinto 11, Hodge 10, Almazan 8, Bates 6, Caram 3, Pasaol 1, Mendoza 0, Torres 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 22-22, 40-41, 73-61, 92-88.