Stanley Pringle delivered the biggest plays to power Barangay Ginebra to a 92-90 comeback win over TNT in the PBA Philippine Cup finals at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Wednesday, December 2.

Pringle – who shone with 34 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds – tied the game and assisted on the go-ahead three-pointer in the last two minutes as the Gin Kings grabbed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

TNT missed the services of star guard Ray Parks due to an injury, but Ginebra needed every bit of the stellar game Pringle produced with several of his teammates struggling offensively.

Pringle buried a three-pointer and canned a pair of free throws in succession to knot the score at 84-84 before he located Scottie Thompson for the triple that gave Ginebra an 87-85 lead.

LA Tenorio splitting his foul shots with 20 seconds remaining left the comeback door ajar for the Tropang Giga, 88-85, but Roger Pogoy – who waxed hot for 38 points – missed the potential game-tying triple.

Tenorio then sank his next 4 free throws as the Gin Kings escaped with the win, putting to waste a last-second half court shot from Simon Enciso.

Aljon Mariano rose to the occasion for Ginebra and churned out 20 points and 9 rebounds, with stars Tenorio, Thompson, and Japeth Aguilar combining for only 14 points on a 3-of-12 shooting.

Thompson still contributed in other facets of the game after chalking up 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.

Jared Dillinger backstopped Pringle and Mariano with 8 points off the bench, while Aguilar had 6 points and 5 rebounds.

Pogoy unloaded 15 points in a third-quarter outburst that saw TNT lead by as many as 15 points, 54-39, but Ginebra closed the period strong and cut its deficit to a single possession, 68-70, going into the last frame.

Enciso put up 15 points and 3 assists in the loss, Jayson Castro had 13 points and 6 assists, while Poy Erram and Troy Rosario added 11 points each.

Parks joined TNT in the pregame shootaround and wore their team uniform but sat out the entire game due to the left calf strain he aggravated in their overtime Game 1 loss.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 92 – Pringle 34, Mariano 20, Dillinger 8, Chan 6, Aguilar 6, Tenorio 5, Devance 4, Tolentino 4, Thompson 3, Caperal 2.

TNT 90 – Pogoy 38, Enciso 15, Castro 13, Erram 11, Rosario 11, De Leon 2, Reyes 0, Carey 0, Semerad 0, Montalbo 0, Washington 0.

Quarters: 21-17, 36-40, 68-70, 92-90.

– Rappler.com