Barangay Ginebra made sure its second outing in the PBA Philippine Cup didn’t mirror its listless opening night. Showing renewed energy and sharp execution, the Gin Kings overwhelmed TNT, 92-77, on Wednesday, October 15, night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After stumbling to a 73-80 loss against Magnolia in the Manila Clasico, Ginebra came out determined against another familiar rival. The result: a bounceback victory that brought Tim Cone’s team to 1-1, while Chot Reyes’ Tropang Giga failed to follow up their previous win over Phoenix.

Ginebra fires on all cylinders

“We weren’t clicking at all in that game (against Magnolia), but tonight we were clicking on all cylinders,” said Cone, crediting the 10-day break for allowing his squad to reset and recalibrate.

Japeth Aguilar anchored Ginebra’s attack with a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, a strong performance as he continued to regain form after off-season hand surgery. Troy Rosario added 13 points and 13 rebounds, while RJ Abarrientos gutted through the flu to chip in 14 points. Scottie Thompson bounced back from a scoreless opener with 10 points and nine assists.

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TNT offense sputters against Ginebra defense

TNT struggled to find consistent offense, with Simon Enciso emerging as the lone bright spot by scoring all 17 of his points in the fourth quarter. RR Pogoy was limited to nine, Calvin Oftana to six, and Rey Nambatac to just three as Ginebra’s defense locked in and dictated the pace.

The Gin Kings controlled the boards, moved the ball efficiently, and kept the Tropang Giga in check from start to finish, setting the tone for a more confident run in the season.