Ginebra nears finals return

MANILA – Barangay Ginebra moved to within a win from making a return to the Philippine Basketball Association Finals after beating the Meralco Bolts, 91-84, in Game 3 Sunday of their semifinal series at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in Pampanga.

Ginebra outscored Meralco, 27-12, in the first quarter and kept the double-digit advantage for most of the game.

The Bolts still tried to mount a comeback, but the team could only cut the lead to as low as six points as time ran out for them.

Stanley Pringle put up 24 points on 10-of-20 shooting, nine rebounds, and six assists for the Barangay, which retook the lead in the best-of-five series and can close out the series on Wednesday night.

Prince Caperal added 15 points, six rebounds, and one block off the bench.

Japeth Aguilar put up a double-double of 13 rebounds and 12 points with four blocks and one steal.

Allein Maliksi fired six three-pointers for 23 points with one assist and one steal for the Bolts, who need to win in Game 4 to keep their title hopes alive.