Brgy. Ginebra survives late TNT rally, moves one win away from PH Cup crown

LA Tenorio drained back-to-back clutch triples as Brgy. Ginebra weathered a late TNT comeback to take Game 4 of the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, 98-88, Sunday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The 36-year old Tenorio finished with 22 points including 8 of the team’s final 10 in the payoff period as the Gin Kings survived Tropang Giga sharpshooter Roger Pogoy’s 34 markers to move one victory away from ending their 13-year title drought in the All-Filipino conference.

“He was really calm under pressure,” said head coach Tim Cone on his chief playmaker during the post-game presser. “That was cold-blooded. It was cold-blooded those two shots LA took.”

“Pogoy was just making incredible shots. Those shots he was making was just tremendous. It really turned into the Pogoy show out there. But (LA) came down and made two huge responses for us from the three-point line, and that kind of took the sails right out of Talk ‘N Text because they were all getting pumped up from Pogoy’s shots,” he added.

Japeth Aguilar added 22 points and 9 rebounds while Stanley Pringle and Scottie Thompson chipped in 16 and 11 markers, respectively.

Poy Erram backstopped Pogoy with 19 points to go with a game-high 16 rebounds while Troy Rosario contributed 16.

Bobby Ray Parks Jr. missed his 2nd straight game due to a strained left calf while Jayson Castro exited the match with 9:35 left in the 3rd quarter due to bone spurs.

“When Jayson went out of the game, that really changed the complexion of the game,” Cone admitted. “I don’t know what Jayson’s status is and Bobby Ray’s, but they’re down a couple of really, really key players. That would be like us losing Scottie (Thompson) and Stanley (Pringle).

“Those are two big losses for them, but I know that Bobby Ray is supposedly close to coming back and Jayson’s a warrior, he’ll find a way if he possibly can. So we’re going to assume that they’re both going to play on Wednesday.”

The Gin Kings can wrap up the title in Game 5 which is scheduled on Wednesday, December 9, 6:00 pm at the same venue.

The scores:

Brgy. Ginebra 98 – Tenorio 22, J. Aguilar 22, Pringle 16, Thompson 11, Devance 8, Dillinger 7, Caperal 6, Chan 6, Mariano 0.

TNT 88 – Pogoy 34, Erram 19, Rosario 16, Enciso 10, Reyes 3, Semerad 2, Castro 2, Vosotros 2, De Leon, Montalbo 0, Washington 0.

Quarterscores: 17-14; 49-39; 76-60; 98-88.