LA Tenorio broke free from Jio Jalalon for a floater before canning a pair of free throws to seal Barangay Ginebra's 107-103 win over the Magnolia Hotshots in Game 3 on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Magnolia leads the best-of-five PBA Governors' Cup semifinals 2-1. Ginebra's win forces Game 4 at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.
Justin Brownlee did almost everything for Ginebra in Game 3 with 46 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and three blocks. Scottie Thompson finished with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, while Tenorio had 14 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Hobbled by foul trouble, Japeth Aguilar finished with 14 points for the Gin Kings, who built an 11-point lead in the final frame behind Jeff Chan, Tenorio, and Brownlee.
The Kings trailed by 17 points at halftime, but unleashed a huge rally in the third period, outscoring the Hotshots 38-23 to cut the deficit to just two, 79-81, entering the final frame. They continued their hot run in the final frame, going up by as many as 11 points.
Magnolia answered with one big shot after another to keep the contest close.
Romeo Travis, who finished with a career-low 12 points to go with 10 boards, hit back-to-back baskets as the Hotshots regained the lead, 103-101.
Tenorio missed a layup in the ensuing play. Thompson came out of nowhere and cleaned up the possession to tie the match, 103-103.
In their most important possession in the game, Paul Lee committed a blunder after passing the ball to nobody, a costly turnover that led to the Tenorio floater with 14.9 ticks remaining.
"We're happy to be alive and kicking. But that's not what we're here for," Ginebra coach Tim Cone said. "We're here to win the series. I just hope our guys understand that. We gotta keep moving forward."
Mark Barroca wound up with 19 points on 3-of-6 shooting from the three-point arc, while Lee fired 17 points on top of four rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Ian Sangalang scored 16 points and hauled down 11 rebounds.
THE SCORES
Ginebra 107 - Brownlee 46, Thompson 15, Tenorio 14, Aguilar 11, Devance 8, Chan 5, Mercado 3, Slaughter 3, Caperal 0, Ferrer 0.
Magnolia 103 - Barroca 19, Lee 17, Sangalang 16, Travis 12, Jalalon 10, Brondial 10, Dela Rosa 8, Simon 5, Melton 3, Reavis 3, Herndon 0, Gamalinda 0.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 41-58, 79-81, 107-103.
EXTRA DRIBBLES
-- In his first game back since hurting his left foot, Joe Devance contributed eight points, four rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block in a little over 27 minutes of play.
-- With under six minutes to go in the fourth period, Magnolia coach Chito Victolero was ejected for throwing the ball to the game official.
-- Barroca lit up in the second period, scoring 12 straight points in a stretch to give the Hotshots their biggest lead, 58-40.