MANILA – Ginebra used a huge turnaround in the final 17 minutes of the game to score a 106-82 blowout win against Terrafirma in their PBA Philippine Cup showdown on Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Japeth Aguilar showed why he is currently one of the league's top two-way players, coming just close to matching a career-high in blocks even as he led the Gin Kings in scoring against the Dyip, who fizzled late in the game after threatening to pull off a major upset.
Behind a strong second quarter and a solid start to the third quarter, Terrafirma looked poised to make Ginebra its first victim in the conference after taking a 71-64 lead with 5:18 left in the third.
However, the Gin Kings pulled away for good after finishing the third on an 18-1 run coupled with a 24-10 fourth-quarter domination.
Aguilar finished with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, six rebounds, three assists, and seven blocks, one shy of his career-high of eight, to lead Ginebra, which tied San Miguel again on top of the team standings at 6-1.
Christian Standhardinger added 18 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and one steal, while Arvin Tolentino chipped in 13 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Juami Tiongson fired 24 points, six rebounds, and four assists for the now 0-7 Terrafirma side, but he was held to just four points in the second half. (PNA)
