Stanley Pringle waxed hot in the third period while veteran guard LA Tenorio canned a crucial three-pointer in crunchtime to tow the Barangay Ginebra Kings to a 92-84 win over the Meralco Bolts in Game Three of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, January 12, 2020.
The win shoved Ginebra ahead, 2-1, in the best-of-seven series.
Pringle scored 17 of his 21 points in the third canto when the Kings broke the game wide open after leading by just one, 43-42, at halftime. In that canto, Ginebra led by as much as 23, 78-55, after a deuce by Cebuano big man Greg Slaughter.
However, Meralco came roaring back and pulled to within five, 82-87, after a three-point play by import Allen Durham. However, Ginebra answered right back as import Justin Brownless found a wide-open Tenorio on the left wing, who then sank a triple to give them an eight-point lead, 90-82, with just 1:47 to go.
Later, Ginebra big man Japeth Aguilar drained a short jumper to put the win in the bag for the Kings.
Brownlee fell a rebound and an assist short of achieving a triple-double with 24 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists, while Aguilar added 23 points and a remarkable seven blocks.
Aside from the loss, Meralco must also deal with the injury suffered by their center, Raymond Almazan, who injured his knee just minutes into the game. He did not return and was set to have an MRI taken on his knee.