Ginebra takes PBA finals opener

MANILA – Barangay Ginebra leaned on their tough defense in the overtime session to take a 100-94 win over the TNT Tropang Giga at the start of the Philippine Basketball Association Finals at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center on Sunday night.

Ginebra held TNT to just two points in extra time, a floater from RR Pogoy with 1:20 left, even as Aljon Mariano and Japeth Aguilar scored dagger baskets both off LA Tenorio's feeds to seal the win.

Aguilar finished with 25 points, 16 rebounds, one assist, and one block for the Barangay, who are now 1-0 up in the best-of-seven series.

Stanley Pringle added 24 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.

Tenorio, who helped force overtime by dishing an assist to a wide-open Arvin Tolentino to set up the equalizing layup with five seconds left in regulation, had his own double-double of 12 points and 10 assists with five rebounds.

Ray-Ray Parks finished with 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, five steals, and two blocks for the Tropang Giga, but he fouled out with 31 seconds left while trying to steal the ball from Tenorio.

It was a tough loss for the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company franchise, which had a huge chance to win it in regulation only that Jayson Castro missed a floater before time expired.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday night.

Box Scores:

Ginebra 100-J. Aguilar 25, Pringle 24, Thompson 15, Tolentino 14, Tenorio 12, Mariano 6, Chan 2, Devance 2, Dillinger 0, Caperal 0

TNT 94-Parks 20, Pogoy 19, Washington 14, Castro 12, Erram 10, Enciso 9, Rosario 8, Montalbo 0, Reyes 0

Quarterscores: 22-27, 41-41, 66-71, 92-92, 100-94 (PNA)

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https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1123328
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