Ginebra snaps skid with dominant 30-point win over NLEX in Philippine Cup

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Barangay Ginebra rediscovered its winning groove in emphatic fashion, dismantling the NLEX Road Warriors 104-74 on Sunday night, November 2, at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo to halt a three-game slide and stay within striking distance in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup race.

Barely holding a spot inside the Top 8 entering the game, the Gin Kings quickly erased doubts by racing to an 11-0 start and never looking back. The victory lifted Ginebra to 2-3, tightening the playoff battle heading toward the midway point of the eliminations.

Japeth Aguilar leads the way with a standout performance in the paint. [PBA Images]

Kings regain rhythm as NLEX falls from top spot

Ginebra’s defense set the tone early, holding NLEX to just 11 first-quarter points before unleashing a second-half surge that ballooned the lead to as many as 30. The Road Warriors, who entered the night riding a three-game win streak, slipped to 4-2 and ceded sole possession of first place. TNT, Magnolia, and Rain or Shine now share the lead at 4-1.

Japeth Aguilar powered the Kings with a conference-best 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, while Stephen Holt added 20 and helped clamp down on NLEX star Robert Bolick, who was limited to four points. Scottie Thompson, Jeremiah Gray, and Troy Rosario chipped in across the board as Ginebra’s balance and defensive intensity returned.

Defense, efficiency fuel Ginebra turnaround

After struggling with efficiency in their first four outings, the Kings shot 52 percent from the field and outscored NLEX 64-41 after halftime. Aguilar said the breakthrough came from commitment on the defensive end. “It started with our defense. One good thing throughout the game was that our defense was there. We believed offense would just come,” he said.

Coach Tim Cone echoed the sentiment, noting improved execution compared to recent losses to Magnolia, Meralco, and San Miguel. “We played really poor against the outstanding teams,” Cone said. “We shot better and defended better tonight.”

The blowout serves as a timely reset for Ginebra as they look to build consistency and climb the standings in the coming weeks.