Stung by an embarrassing opening loss, Barangay Ginebra took out every ounce of its frustration on Blackwater. The Gin Kings came out with guns blazing, delivering a wire-to-wire 115-85 demolition of the Bossing on Friday, July 24, in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The crowd favorites led by as many as 40 points and could have logged the most lopsided win of the young tournament had they not dribbled out the clock on their final possession. Converge’s 105-74 thrashing of Blackwater back on July 12 still stands as the biggest rout of the conference.

From 32 Percent Misery to 35 Assists: The Ultimate Reset

It was a dramatic turnaround for a Ginebra squad that looked completely lost in its conference debut. After shooting a miserable 32 percent in a frustrating loss to Phoenix, the Gin Kings shot the lights out at a 53-percent clip while slicing up Blackwater with 35 assists.

Eight Gin Kings finished in double figures to power a balanced, high-octane offensive clinic from start to finish. Stephen Holt led the attack with 19 points, followed by import Riley Grigsby with 18, RJ Abarrientos with 14, and 11 points apiece from Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, Ralph Cu, Nards Pinto, and Kemark Carino.

Tim Cone’s Vision Restored as Blackwater Tailspins

“We started right, played defense and moved the ball—that’s Ginebra basketball,” Holt said after the dominant victory. Coach Tim Cone echoed that enthusiasm, praising how quickly his squad responded after their opening hiccup.

“We came out and played better. They were playing well, so I’m surprised we got this kind of win,” Cone admitted regarding the 30-point margin. “We moved the ball, and when that happens, you get the shots and you generate points.”

The loss marks the second straight setback for Blackwater after an encouraging 2-0 start to the conference. The Bossing dropped a 116-114 heartbreaker to Meralco in their previous outing before running straight into a fired-up Ginebra squad.