SMART CLARK GIGA CITY--Barangay Ginebra downed TNT, 85-79, behind another Stanley Pringle show to wrest the solo lead in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday night at the Angeles University Foundation Arena here.
Shifty guard Pringle exploded with a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds as the playoff-bound Kings nabbed the top spot with a 7-2 card.
The Fil-Am cager came through with the crucial baskets, scoring six points in an 8-2 spurt that pushed Ginebra ahead, 80-72, with 1:53 left in the game.
Pringle also hit the dagger layup for an 83-76 lead with 49 seconds remaining to virtually seal the deal for the Kings.
"He's a closer. He closes the game for us. We want the ball in his hands," said Ginebra coach Tim Cone, whose team also seized a third straight win in four days.
Japeth Aguilar chalked a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds while veteran guard LA Tenorio had his best game so far in the bubble, finishing with 15 markers, nine assists and five boards.
Jayson Castro had 19 points even as Poy Erram had 17 markers and 10 boards for TNT, which suffered its second straight setback in three days.
The Tropang Giga, who lost to Magnolia, 102-92, on Wednesday, slid to a share of No. 2 with Phoenix on an identical 6-3 slate.
The scores:
GINEBRA 85 -- Pringle 28, Aguilar 19, Tenorio 15, Dillinger 7, Tolentino 6, Thompson 4, Caperal 2, Chan 2, Mariano 2, Balanza 0.
TNT 79 -- Castro 19, Erram 17, Parks 15, Pogoy 12, Washington 9, Enciso 3, De Leon 2, Rosario 2, Reyes 0, Semerad 0, Montalbo 0.
Quarters: 20-11, 36-32, 64-57, 85-79