BARANGAY Ginebra essayed another dominating win in Game Two against NorthPort, 119-106, on Friday in their PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series at the Philsports Arena.
The Gin Kings got off to another strong start and led by as many as 35 points - the margin of victory only becoming respectable after a late rally by the Batang Pier in a game no different to a 115-93 Ginebra blowout in the series opener.
READ Game over? Ginebra opens 29-point halftime lead
With the lopsided result, the fourth-seeded Gin Kings opened a 2-0 series lead in their best-of-seven affair. They can move within a win of another finals seat in the next game on Sunday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Japeth Aguilar equalled a season-high in scoring by tallying 31 points while also hauling down eight rebounds for the Gin Kings, who posted a 33-17 second quarter to keep Game 2 out of reach for the Batang Pier.
Ginebra also got a chance to field Jeremiah Gray in a game for the first time since July 2023 when he sustained a serious knee injury during the PBA on Tour.
“We felt that we needed to come in with a real disciplined approach to this game because we felt there was a real good chance that we will step back and pick up their intensity,” said Ginebra coach Tim Cone.
"But our guys did a real good job of staying disciplined with what we do."
Kadeem Jack had 27 points and 10 rebounds, while William Navarro also had a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Batang Pier, who also got 14 points and two steals from Joshua Munzon.
But NorthPort continued to sorely miss the offensive presence of Arvin Tolentino, who was held to 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting from the field.
The Batang Pier fell behind, 74-39, after conceding the first six points of the third period. They were able to trim the gap to as low as 15 in the final quarter, but the Aguilar scored on a lay-up upon the Ginebrs starters' return to end the threat.
“We got a little loose towards the end of the third and start of the fourth. I didn’t plan on bringing Japeth and Justin back but it’s playoffs. You can’t mess around. You’ve got to make sure that your guys are out there making sure to get that win,” said Cone.
The scores:
Barangay Ginebra 119 – J. Aguilar 31, Malonzo 17, Thompson 16, Rosario 11, Abarrientos 11, Brownlee 10, Ahanmisi 8, Holt 7, Gray 6, Pinto 2, Pessumal 0, R. Aguilar 0, Cu 0, Adamos 0, Mariano 0.
NorthPort 106 – Jack 27, Navarro 23, Munzon 14, Tolentino 12, Bulanadi 10, Nelle 6, Miranda 5, Yu 5, Taha 3, Onwubere 1, Flores 0, Cuntapay 0.
Quarters: 35-22; 68-39; 93-67; 119-106.
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