Aguilar ties season high as Ginebra sinks NorthPort anew for 2-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar led a balanced attack to steer Barangay Ginebra to a wire-to-wire 119-106 win over NorthPort in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the PhilSports Arena on Friday, February 28.

Aguilar tied his season high with 31 points on top of 8 rebounds as the Gin Kings claimed a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series after a breezy win that saw them lead by as many as 35 points.

Heroes were aplenty for Ginebra, with five more players scoring in twin digits in another blowout that served as a fitting follow-up to its 22-point rout in Game 1.

Jamie Malonzo put up 17 points, while Scottie Thompson supplied 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, including back-to-back layups in the third quarter that gave the Gin Kings their biggest cushion at 74-39.

Although the Batang Pier inched within 15 points on multiple occasions, Aguilar scattered 11 points in the final frame to help Ginebra keep NorthPort at bay.

The veteran forward also set the tone for the Gin Kings as he fired 10 points in the opening quarter, which ended with Ginebra up 35-22.

Rookie guard RJ Abarrientos tossed in 11 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds, Troy Rosario added 11 points and 8 rebounds, while import Justin Brownlee chimed in 11 points, 11 assists, and 2 steals.

The lopsided victory allowed Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone to field Jeremiah Gray, who played for the first time since he suffered a knee injury in the final game of the PBA On Tour in July 2023.

Gray finished with 6 points and 2 rebounds as he connected on a three-pointer and completed an and-one play.

Import Kadeem Jack churned out 27 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Batang Pier, who are slowly seeing their hopes of reaching the finals for the first time slip away from their hands.

William Navarro tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

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, Cu 0, Adamos 0, R. Aguilar 0, Mariano 0

NorthPort 106 – Jack 27, Navarro 23, Munzon 14, Tolentino 12, Bulanadi 10, Nelle 6, Yu 5, Miranda 5, Taha 3, Onwubere 1, Flores 0, Cuntapay 0.

Quarters: 35-22, 68-39, 93-67, 119-106.

– Rappler.com