Barangay Ginebra needed every ounce of grit and experience to fend off a determined Blackwater squad on Friday night. Japeth Aguilar drilled the go-ahead jumper with one second left to secure a 101-99 win in the PBA Philippine Cup at the PhilSports Arena.

The Gin Kings collected their third consecutive win to improve to 5-2 and solidify fourth place in the standings. They built a 54-43 advantage but were dragged into a down-the-wire battle by Blackwater’s sharp-shooting guards.

Blackwater’s Comeback Falls Short
Sedrick Barefield led the Bossing with 32 points, while RK Ilagan and Jason David combined for 39 to push Ginebra to the limit. Troy Mallillin capped their late surge with a game-tying triple with 19 seconds left on the clock.

Scottie Thompson, whose wife was in labor during the game, delivered the decisive assist to Aguilar just before overtime loomed. With that clutch play, he rushed to the hospital after sealing the win for Ginebra.

Coach Tim Cone praised the victory but admitted concern over the team’s defensive effort. He noted that Ginebra allowed Blackwater’s guards too much rhythm, making the game harder than expected.

Aguilar’s Heroics Seal the Win
Aguilar tallied 22 points and hit the biggest basket of the night to cap another clutch performance. Cone commended both Aguilar for the shot and Thompson for the perfectly timed pass.

Despite the loss, Blackwater showed tremendous fight as Ilagan went 2-for-2 from the four-point zone and Barefield hit big shots all game. The Bossing fell to 1-6 after suffering their fourth straight defeat.

Anthony Semerad, Troy Mallillin, and Jason David gave solid support to Blackwater’s cause with efficient scoring and perimeter shooting. But in the end, Ginebra’s composure and late-game execution won out in a wild contest.