A blazing start propelled Barangay Ginebra closer to a keenly awaited return to the PBA Philippine Cup finals after a 91-84 win over Meralco at the Angeles University Foundation in Pampanga on Sunday, November 22.

The Gin Kings built a lead as large as 25 points and relied on key buckets of Stanley Pringle down the stretch to fend off the Bolts’ comeback en route to a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five semifinals series.

Pringle scattered 24 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists, coming up big in the final quarter as Ginebra moved one win away from reaching the All-Filipino finals for the first time since 2017.

Two Chris Newsome free throws narrowed the Meralco gap to 70-79 with 3 minutes left but Pringle quickly put their lead back to double digits with a booming three-pointer.

Pringle and LA Tenorio then scored back-to-back layups for an 86-76 lead as the Gin Kings held on despite being threatened by two straight Newsome and Raymond Almazan triples in the final minute.

“I thought we came out with a lot more purpose,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone as his wards bounced back from their Game 2 loss.

“It takes a lot of effort to win a basketball game, and sometimes, you just do not have that same effort going into the next game and the other team picks up the effort.”

Prince Caperal backstopped Pringle with 15 points and 6 rebounds, off the bench, Japeth Aguilar finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks, while LA Tenorio had 12 points and 4 assists.

Joe Devance also contributed in the win with 10 points and 5 rebounds.

The Gin Kings cruised early and enjoyed a 37-12 lead before the Bolts found their footing and trimmed their deficit to just 11 points, 34-45, at halftime.

But everything Meralco threw in the second half, Ginebra had an answer for as it maintained at least a two-possession lead throughout.

Allein Maliksi topscored for the Bolts anew with 23 points off the bench.

Almazan had 16 points and 9 rebounds, while Cliff Hodge chimed in 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 91 – Pringle 24, Caperal 15, Aguilar 12, Tenorio 12, Devance 10, Thompson 9, Tolentino 4, Mariano 5.

Meralco 84 – Maliksi 23, Almazan 16, Hodge 13, Newsome 12, Amer 9, Quinto 6, Black 3, Hugnatan 2, Faundo 0, Jamito 0, Pinto 0.

Quarters: 27-12, 45-34, 64-52, 91-84.

– Rappler.com