Barangay Ginebra Gin King clinched their first title in the All-Filipino Conference since the 2007-08 season by defeating TNT KaTropa in an 82-78 Game 5 Wednesday at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center.
Japeth Aguilar tallied a career-high 32 points and added eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Stanley Pringle contributed 13 points, six assists, four rebounds, and a steal while LA Tenorio, who had 10 and six assists, bagged his fourth Finals MVP award.
“When this thing started, we really didn’t have a lot of expectations for ourselves we were just thinking can we make the playoffs?” said Kings coach Tim Cone.
THE SCORES
Barangay Ginebra 82 — Aguilar 32, Pringle 13, Tenorio 10, Dillinger 8, Thompson 6, Mariano 5, Chan 3, Caperal 3, Devance 2, Tolentino 0.
TNT 78 — Pogoy 23, Erram 18, Enciso 17, Rosario 12, De Leon 6, Vosotros 2, Carey 0, Reyes 0, Montalbo 0, Washington 0.
Quarters: 19-19, 38-36, 55-56, 82-78.