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PBA: Ginebra holds off Meralco to win championship

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/10/24/ginebra.jpg"/><figcaption>Barangay Ginebra celebrates its 10th PBA championship after beating Meralco 101-96 in Game 7 of the Governors&#x27; Cup finals Friday. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Winning as many PBA championships as Tim Cone has, it’s difficult to say what makes one distinct from the others.For the Barangay Ginebra coach, one look at the massive crowd at Philippine Arena and he knows immediately why the latest jewel in his untouchable legacy stands out.“To be able to do it in front of these fans — even the Meralco fans — it&#x27;s such a special thing to be able to do this,” Cone said.LA Tenorio scored 26 points and Justin Brownlee added 23, as Barangay Ginebra held off Meralco 101-96 to win the Governors’ Cup championship in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/27/17/pba-league-record-attendance-reset-as-54086-attend-game-7">READ: PBA record attendance reset as 54,086 attend Game 7</a></li>	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/28/17/pba-after-winning-20th-title-why-tim-cone-cant-wait-to-call-pal-erik-spoelstra">READ: After winning 20th title, why Cone can&#x27;t wait to call pal Spoelstra</a></li></ul>Game 7 didn’t have the same dramatic ending as last year’s, but it wasn’t without its nervous moments.Ginebra’s lead, which once stood as high as 20 points, shrunk to 4 with less than a minute to go after empty trips to the free-throw line and Meralco refusing to give up.Given a chance to seal the win and atone for his teammates’ bungled charity attempts, Tenorio split his free throws to give Ginebra some breathing space.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/27/17/pba-sacrifice-playing-through-pain-pay-off-for-finals-mvp-tenorio">READ: Sacrifice, playing through pain pay of for finals MVP Tenorio</a></li>	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/28/17/pba-jaworski-has-one-wish-after-tightly-contested-ginebra-meralco-series">READ: Jaworski has one wish after tightly contested Ginebra-Meralco series</a></li></ul><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/tvpatrol/10/24/pba1.jpg"/><figcaption>Japeth Aguilar and Barangay Ginebra withstood a late rally by Meralco to successfully defend their Governors&#x27; Cup championship. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>In Meralco’s final possession, a 3-point attempt by Garvo Lanete bounced off the rim and into the hands of Kevin Ferrer to secure Ginebra’s 10th league title in front of the 54,086 spectators, the highest gate attendance in league history.“Imagine, 54,000 people here? I never would’ve imagined this as a coach, having the opportunity to do this in front of so many people,” said Cone, who extended his own personal record to 20 PBA championships. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/28/17/pba-jared-dillinger-sets-aside-ginebra-beef-congratulates-champs-in-tweet">READ: Jared Dillinger sets aside Ginebra beef, congratulates champs in tweet</a></li></ul>Ginebra was explosive right off the bat, going up 27-19 in the first quarter then pulling away 52-32 late in the second. At the end of the third quarter, Cone and his crew held an 81-64 lead.The champs were still comfortably ahead 100-90 with 1:34 left in the game clock, until they started to brick their free throws.Meralco took advantage of 4 straight misses, with Chris Newsome hitting a jumper and Jared Dillinger drilling a 3-pointer to make it 100-96 with 47 seconds left.The Bolts looked ready to cut the deficit further after Tenorio front-rimmed a 3-point attempt, but Japeth Aguilar caught the rebound, forcing Meralco to foul to stop the clock. Tenorio then walked to the free-throw line where he went 1 out of 2.Scottie Thompson contributed 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals, while Greg Slaughter chipped in 12 points and 2 blocks. Brownlee added 3 blocks and was 3 of 4 from downtown.Allen Durham finished with 26 points, 24 rebounds and 9 assists to lead Meralco, getting sufficient help from his teammates.Dillinger, in his best game of the series, added 20 points and 5 assists, while Cliff Hodge had 14 points and 7 rebounds.For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Barangay Ginebra has defeated Meralco 101-96 to win the PBA Governors' Cup championship at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday.

Barangay Ginebra has defeated Meralco 101-96 to win the PBA Governors' Cup championship at Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Friday.