BARANGAY Ginebra continued to thrive in do-or-die situations as it eliminated Star, 89-76, on Tuesday night to earn the right to face San Miguel Beer in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
Sol Mercado, LA Tenorio, and Japeth Aguilar rose to the occasion for the Gin Kings in holding off the Hotshots in Game Seven before a sellout Mall of Asia Arena crowd.
The Gin Kings sustained the sizeable cushion as LA Tenorio kept them comfortably ahead in the final frame where he fired 10 of his 21 points as the Hotshots came no closer than three points.
Aguilar added 19 points and five boards, while Thompson chipped in 10 markers and missed a double-double by just one rebound.
Allein Maliksi put up his best game of the conference with 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and five boards, while Marc Pingris again carried most of load with 17 points, eight boards, six assists, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes for naught.
PBA Feb. 21, 2017
EVENTS: Full Game Replay
Where: MALL OF ASIA ARENA
When: TUESDAY 21 FEB 2016
When: TUESDAY 21 FEB 2016
WATCH REPLAY: CLICK HERE
The Final Scoreboard Result:
GINEBRA 89 - Mercado 23, Tenorio 21, Aguilar 19, Thompson 10, Devance 7, Cruz 6, Ferrer 2, Marcelo 1, Ellis 0, Caguioa 0.
STAR 76 - Maliksi 22, Pingris 17, Ramos 14, Barroca 8, Reavis 5, Lee 4, Jalalon 4, Melton 2, Simon 0, Sangalang 0, dela Rosa 0,
Quarters: 26-16, 45-36, 65-61, 89-76.