Ginebra draws first blood against TNT in PBA Finals

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

The Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel showed their true brand of offense after shutting down the well-oiled TNT Tropang Giga, 100-94, in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

It was what the fans expected as both teams slugged it out in the whole four quarters and the counters coach Tim Cone and coach Bong Ravena employed was entertaining to watch.

Coach Cone set up their triangle offense early in the game that fed an open Japeth Aguilar at the post several times which TNT countered in the second half by staying patient during Ginebra’s high-low plays.

Troy Rosario and Poy Erram made it hard for Stanley Pringle and Aguilar to get their usual buckets but LA Tenorio emerged to be their biggest x-factor.

It was a Tenorio diming exhibition after making the winning assists when he fed a surging Arvin Tolentino to force overtime and found a cutting Aguilar underneath with 19 seconds left in overtime to further push their lead, 98-94.

“We had a lot of contributions and that is how it is going to have to be when we play this team, no one person is going to beat Talk ‘N Text, it is going to be a team,” said coach Cone.

Ray Parks Jr. and RR Pogoy led the Tropang Giga as both players scored 20 and 19 respectively but they need more bench contribution.

Aguilar finished the ball game with a monster double-double performance of 25 points and 14 rebounds while Pringle’s aggressiveness going to the paint had him 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.