PBA: Ginebra cruises past TNT to barge into win column

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel broke into the win column in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup after cruising past TNT, 92-77, on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra pulled away early and never looked back as they picked up their first win in two games, following their opening day loss to Magnolia.

Japheth Aguilar led the way with 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting along with 10 rebounds while RJ Abarrientos contributed 14 markers.

Troy Rosario also posted a double-double with 13 markers and 13 boards. Three other Gin Kings — Scottie Thompson, Stephen Holt, and Norbert Torres — scored 10 points apiece.

Simon Enciso led TNT with 17 points — all in the fourth quarter. Kevin Ferrer was the only Tropang 5G player in double figures with 11. TNT fell to a 1-1 record.

Holt and Rosario led Ginebra on an early 18-0 run that turned a 13-10 lead into a whopping 31-10 advantage. They finished the first quarter ahead, 33-16, and the halftime break leading by 15, 45-30.

In the third, it was Rosario and Aguilar contributing early as they extended their lead to 19, 55-36, before a 7-0 run capped by a Torres triple made it a 62-39 advantage.

TNT countered with a 9-0 run, coming back to within 14, 62-48, before Abarrientos scored the last six points of the period, including a four-point shot to beat the buzzer, making it a 20-point gap again.

In the final period, Enciso made his presence felt as he knocked down four three-pointers in the first four minutes, allowing TNT to inch back to within 11 points, 76-65, with over eight minutes still left to play.

Ginebra, though, restored order with an 11-2 run, again making it, 87-67, before cruising to the win.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News