WATCH: Tim Cone captures 22nd PBA title!
Brgy. Ginebra turned on the heat in the 2nd half and staved off Meralco’s repeated comeback attempts to take Game 5 and reclaim the PBA Governors’ Cup throne, 105-83, Friday night at a jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Gin Kings leaned on the outstanding plays of Japeth Aguilar, Justin Brownlee and Stanley Pringle from both ends of the court to finally put the Bolts away for good in front of 15,146 roaring fans.
With the 4-1 win over the Norman Black-mentored squad, Brgy. Ginebra swept the ‘Finals Trilogy’, 3-0, and ultimately regained the crown they surrendered last season to the Magnolia Hotshots.
Aguilar, who named as the Finals MVP, punctuated his phenomenal championship round performance with 25 points, 8 boards and 4 rejections.
Brownlee added 24 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 10 assists while Pringle contributed 17 markers, 4 rebounds and 8 assists. Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio chipped in 14 and 12 points, respectively for the Gin Kings who captured their 12th overall title.
Brgy. Ginebra coach Tim Cone, already the league’s winning-est with 21 titles tucked under his belt, added another one to make it 22 – 9 in the season-ending conference and 4th with the crowd darlings which tied the record of the acknowledged father of the ‘Never-Say-Die’ spirit Robert Jaworski.