WITH Japeth Aguilar and Justin Brownlee leading the way, Barangay Ginebra chalked up its first successive victories in the PBA Governors' Cup, drubbing Phoenix Super LPG, 110-101, Friday in a follow-up to its 119-91 conquest of NLEX the last time out.
Aguilar top scored with 31 points and Brownlee delivered a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in this Ninoy Aquino Stadium setto where the Gin Kings dispatched the Fuel Masters and thus ended the first round of the elims with a 3-2 win-loss card.
Ginebra took the half at 57-46 from one point down, 24-25, at the end of the opening period, and kept Phoenix at bay through the second half.
In the end, the Kings caught up with the San Miguel Beermen at second place behind Group B leader Rain or Shine (4-1) while keeping the Fuel Masters winless in five starts.
Trade recruit Stephen Holt contributed a 19-point outing highlighted by a 10-point salvo in the third quarter while draft acquisition RJ Abarrientos chipped in 16, including 10 in the first half.
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But Aguilar was the biggest star of the night for the Kings as the 6-foot-9 center/forward fueled their second-quarter breakaway with clutch hits and winding up with his biggest game in the season thus far.
Aguilar, Brownlee, Holt and Abarrientos complemented one another in the final half, negating Brandone Francis' game-high 33-point explosion.
The Fuel Masters are now 0-2 with Francis and 0-5 overall.
Coach Mike Jarin's crew have a lot of catching up to do in the second round if they're to salvage a spot in the Last Eight, pitting the top four in the group versus their counterparts in the other bracket.
RR Garcia top scored for the Phoenix locals with 17, including a 2-of-2 clip from the four-point area.
Jayson Perkins scattered 11 in the first half but was held to just two in the second half. (SB)
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