Ginebra back as PBA kings after nipping TNT in Game 5 of the Finals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

After the buzzer, championship number 13 was hoisted.

In one of the most highly-anticipated PBA Finals matchups, the Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel emerged victorious over the TNT Tropang Giga in Game 5, 82-78, to claim the first PBA bubble championship trophy.

Despite having a banged-up roster with Ray Parks Jr. and Jayson Castro out due to injuries, the Tropang Giga squad showed resiliency and never backed down from the challenge as they were able to take momentum and nabbed an early lead.

Poy Erram was all over the place, refusing to give up after sinking three-pointers and battling in the shaded area for rebounds that put Ginebra star forward Japeth Aguilar in foul trouble as early as the first quarter.

RR Pogoy’s scoring prowess was able to keep TNT within striking distance and even shouldered another lead, 73-68.

However, Ginebra’s never say die spirit was once again on full display after Stanley Pringle and Aguilar mounted a comeback in the fourth that silenced the whole Tropang Giga.

Timely treys from Pringle and crucial low-post scores from Aguilar helped them grab back the lead that setup a slugfest in the last two minutes of the ball game.

With Ginebra looking to extend their lead, LA Tenorio orchestrated the final attack and drew two defenders to setup a perfect alley-oop pass to Aguilar and stretched their league to 7, 80-73, with under two minutes left.

“A little bit of a surreal feeling. Everything is different… But our guys really battled for this,” said Ginebra head coach Tim Cone.

Tenorio was awarded the PBA Finals MVP and won his first-ever PBA Philippine Cup title after numerous tries.