Japeth Aguilar caught fire just in time for Ginebra to grab its first twin victories in the PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup on Friday, Sept. 6.
A win has continued to elude Phoenix.
This after Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel clipped its wings, 110-101, in their PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup clash on Friday, Sept. 6.
For their part, the Gin Kings scored their first back-to-back victories in the import-spiced conference, hiking their win-loss tally to 3-2 in Group B.
Ginebra had Japeth Aguilar to thank for after the 6-foot-9 beanpole finished with 31 points, including the turnaround jumper with 2:26 left to play that pretty much sealed the win.
The Ginebra veteran also had four rebounds and two assists in a vintage performance that saw him soar for an emphatic breakaway dunk in the third period.
“I’ve never seen a 37-year-old player retain their athleticism like Japeth has. He’s still an incredible athlete,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone of Aguilar.
“And that makes him almost like a freak of nature to be able to play at that athletic level, still here at 37 years old.”
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But Aguilar would be the first to say it was a team win.
“[It’s] Not just me. It’s really all of the new guys and the team,” the Gilas mainstay said. “I’m happy with the new guys because they’re taking on the challenge also.”
New guys Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos fired 19 and 16 points, respectively, while naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee delivered a triple-double with his 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists.
Ginebra shifted into high gear in the second period, sputtered in the third and did just enough in the final stretch to keep Phoenix winless in five outings.
In his second game with Phoenix, Brandone Francis tallied 33 points, six rebounds, four assists and a block.
RR Garcia turned in 17 points, while Jason Perkins had 13.
The Scores:
GINEBRA 110 – Aguilar 31, Brownlee 23, Holt 19, Abarrientos 16, Thompson 9, Ahankisi 7, Tenorio 3, Go 2, Cu 0, Pinto 0, Garcia 0, Adamos 0, Mariano 0.
PHOENIX 101 – Francis 33, Garcia 17, Perkins 13, Mocon 8, Tio 7, Rivero 7, Muyang 5, Jazul 3, Ballungay 2, Manganti 2, Verano 2, Daves 2, Alejandro 0, Salado 0, Tuffin 0.
Quarterscores: 24-25, 57-46, 87-75, 110-101