By REYNALD MAGALLON
Stanley Pringle picked the perfect time to take the spotlight and run the show.
The veteran playmaker turned in a season-best effort to steer Barangay Ginebra to a thrilling 92-88 victory against Meralco and gain the head start to their best-of-seven semifinals affair at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, May 17.
Pringle came through with 22 points – none bigger than the high looping floater over the outstretched arms of Cliff Hodge to put the dagger to the heart of the hard-fighting Bolts who put together a late charge to give the Kings a huge scare.
The 37-year-old actually took over for Ginebra in the final frame, scoring nine of his total to make sure that the Kings kept their heads above the water against a late surge from the Bolts,
Ralph Cu also came up huge for Ginebra with 18 points all of which he scored from deep while Japeth Aguilar anchored the Kings defensive stand, swatting away four shots to go with his 17 points.
Maverick Ahanmisi added 15 points while Christian Standhardinger had 14 points – including an and-1 play that put Ginebra ahead by 10, 89-79, with 1:35 left in the contest.
Like when the Kings looked to be on their way to victory, the Bolts suddenly battled back with Chris Newsome presiding over a 7-1 spurt that pulled them within four, 90-86.
That was when Pringle took matters into his own hands and pulled the plug on the Meralco comeback with the dagger floater.
Ginebra can go for a commanding 2-0 lead in Game 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, May 19.
Newsome paced Meralco with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists while Chris Banchero had 15 points and eight assists. Allein Maliksi chipped in 13 points while Bong Quinto had 11 in a losing cause for the Bolts.
