The Barangay Ginebra Kings coasted to their third straight win with a convincing 105-91 win over the Meralco Bolts in the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night, October 18, 2020, at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga.
While this was a rematch of the Governors’ Cup finals last January, the result was no different was Japeth Aguilar proved too tough to handle while Stanley Pringle, Jeff Chan, and Arvin Tolentino all put up solid numbers to push Ginebra to 3-0 (win-loss) and into a tie for the lead in the standings with TNT and Rain or Shine.
Aguilar scored 20 points and added four rebounds and two blocks while Pringle added 16 points and seven rebounds. Chan scored 12 and added four assists and two steals while and Tolentino poured in 11.
The game was tied at 20-all after the first but Ginebra made their move in the second, outscoring Meralco, 31-19, to take a 51-39 lead.
Ginebra eventually went on cruise control as they led by as much as 24 points.
Ginebra’s long-time star Mark Caguioa also saw his first taste of action inside the PBA “bubble,” making history as the player with the longest tenure with a single team. Now playing in his 18th season, Caguioa shattered the previous record of 17 seasons spent with the same team jointly held by Alvin Patrimonio with Purefoods and Harvey Carey with TNT.
Allein Maliksi and Reynel Hugnatan scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, as the Bolts slipped to 1-2.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 105 – J. Aguilar 20, Pringle 16, Chan 12, Tolentino 11, Caperal 9, Mariano 8, Thompson 7, Tenorio 6, Devance 6, Dillinger 5, Balanza 3, Caguioa 2, Salado 0, R. Aguilar 0.
Meralco 91 – Maliksi 18, Hugnatan 16, Amer 10, Newsome 10, Jackson 6, Almazan 6, Black 5, Hodge 5, Quinto 4, Jamito 4, Jose 3, Pinto 2, Caram 2, Salva 0.
Quarters: 20-20; 51-39; 74-60; 105-91. (JNP)