Ginebra Roars Back to Life, Blows Out NLEX in Statement Win

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by Cristian Andal

Ginebra veteran big man Japeth Aguilar turned back time with a stellar performance against NLEX.
Ginebra veteran big man Japeth Aguilar turned back time with a stellar performance against NLEX. Photo: PBA Images.

Barangay Ginebra finally looked like the Ginebra fans know and love. 

After two straight heartbreakers, the Gin Kings came out blazing and never looked back, blasting the NLEX Road Warriors with a commanding 104-74 victory in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

From the opening tip, it was all Ginebra. The crowd favorites raced to a 26-9 first-quarter lead, setting the tone for what turned into a wire-to-wire beatdown. After a frustrating trip to Dubai where nothing seemed to fall, the Kings returned home firing on all cylinders — and the result was a much-needed bounce-back win that improved their record to 2-3.

Japeth Aguilar looked every bit like the veteran leader Ginebra needed, pouring in 25 points while attacking the rim with confidence. Stephen Holt added 20 points, including 10 in that red-hot opening quarter, while Scottie Thompson flirted with another triple-double — finishing with 12 points and 11 assists. Troy Rosario also did the dirty work, pulling down 11 rebounds to anchor the paint.

Ginebra superstar Scottie Thompson (right).
Ginebra superstar Scottie Thompson (right). Photo: PBA Images.

Head coach Tim Cone was visibly pleased with how his squad responded after the Dubai debacle. “We didn’t shoot well there — different environment, no practice time,” Cone admitted. “But we made the right adjustments tonight. We pushed the pace, moved the ball better, and most importantly, defended the way we’re supposed to.”

And that defense made all the difference. Holt hounded Robert Bolick all game long, limiting the NLEX star to just a few field goals, while JB Bahio was also neutralized. Ginebra held the Road Warriors to 38% shooting, a far cry from their recent hot streak that had lifted them to a 4-1 start.

NLEX, now 4-2, struggled to find its rhythm all night. Xyrus Torres led the way with 17 points, and Jonnel Policarpio chipped in 13, but the rest of the team failed to sustain any offensive consistency against Ginebra’s swarming defense.

For Ginebra Nation, this was the kind of performance that reignites hope — a reminder that the defending crowd favorites still have plenty of firepower and grit when they lock in. If this version of the Gin Kings shows up consistently, the rest of the league better start paying attention again.

The Scores:

Ginebra 104 - Aguilar 25, Holt 20, Thompson 12, Rosario 9, Gray 9, Cu 7, Abarrientos 4, Torres 4, Estil 4, R. Aguilar 4, Pinto 4, David 2.

NLEX 74 - Torres 17, Policarpio 13, Fajardo 10, Capulong 9, Bahio 8, Alas 7, Mocon 4, Bolick 4, Ramirez 2, Nieto 0, Herndon 0, Rodger 0, Valdez 0, Marcelo 0, Amer 0.

Quarterscores: 26-11, 40-33, 72-59, 104-74