Japeth Aguilar lorded the paint in the second half as Barangay Ginebra took down NLEX, 104-74, on Sunday to snap out of a two-game skid in the PBA Philippine Cup at Ynares Center here.
Aguilar scored 21 of his 25 points in the last two quarters, 13 of which came in the third when the Gin Kings were able to foil the Road Warriors’ comeback try to end up securing a lopsided result. Stephen Holt had 20 points, three rebounds, four assists and three steals, even as Scottie Thompson produced 12 points, six rebounds and 11 assists.
Ginebra improved to 2-3 to wrap up a tough stretch of games against sister teams from San Miguel Corporation and three under the umbrella of corporate rival MVP Group.
It was Ginebra’s first game since losing to San Miguel, 83-81, in Dubai the previous Sunday. The Gin Kings also stopped the three-game winning streak of the Road Warriors, who dropped to fourth with a 4-2 record.
Xyrus Torres scored 17 points, but the duo of Kevin Alas and Robert Bolick combined for just 11 points on 3-of-11 shooting in the defeat.
NLEX actually trimmed down the deficit to four early in the third from a high of 17 behind Torres, before Ginebra went to Aguilar for baskets in the post.