MANILA, Philippines – Stanley Pringle and Barangay Ginebra rained threes on TNT with blistering efficiency to regain control of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals with a 117-103 win at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, April 14.

Pringle shot a perfect 6-of-6 from deep and 7-of-7 overall to finish with 22 points in his first start of the conference for the Gin Kings, who drained 18 triples on a 56% clip to grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven affair.

Jamie Malonzo and Justin Brownlee also joined the three-point party with six and three triples, respectively, as they showed the way in a pivotal fourth-quarter run.

The two knocked down two three-pointers apiece in a 25-9 blast that turned an 88-88 deadlock to a commanding 113-97 advantage for Ginebra with under three minutes remaining.

Brownlee churned out a team-high 29 points to go with 8 rebounds and 5 assists as he bounced back from his disappointing 12-point outing in their 95-82 loss last game.

Malonzo played his best game in the finals with 27 points on 66% shooting from deep and completed a double-double with 10 rebounds.

It was Pringle, though, who carried the scoring cudgels early as he caught fire from the get-go, burying three three-pointers in the first quarter and ending the period with 11 points to help the Gin Kings mount a 29-19 lead.

“We shot the ball real well tonight from different angles led by Stanley,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

“Stanley kept us in the game, got us ahead, kept us in the game during the first half, and then hit big shots in the second half.”

Led by import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Mikey Williams, the Tropang Giga kept in step with their foes and forged a 57-57 tie at halftime behind a 38-point second quarter.

TNT remained within shouting distance for much of the second half but fell apart after failing to contain the Gin Kings’ onslaught, with Ginebra sinking five treys in the payoff period to set a franchise record in triples made in game.

Hollis-Jefferson tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in the loss, while Williams fired 19 points off five three-pointers.

Aside from the trio of Brownlee, Malonzo, and Pringle, the Gin Kings also drew prolific performances from Scottie Thompson and Christian Standhardinger, who came up with a pair of 16-point double-doubles.

Standhardinger netted 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Thompson recorded 16 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Things look like they are falling into place for Ginebra as it welcomed back star forward Japeth Aguilar from a 15-game absence caused by a knee injury.

Aguilar had 2 points and 1 rebound in nearly five minutes of action.

The Scores

Barangay Ginebra 117 – Brownlee 29, Malonzo 27, Pringle 22, Thompson 16, Standhardinger 16, Gray 5, J.Aguilar 2, Mariano 0, Pinto 0, Onwubere 0.

TNT 103 – Hollis-Jefferson 32, M.Williams 19, Erram 14, Castro 14, Pogoy 13, Khobuntin 6, Oftana 3, Tungcab 2, Marcelo 0, Montalbo 0.

Quarters: 29-19, 57-57, 87-81, 117-103.

– Rappler.com