BARANGAY Ginebra turned to the likes of Aljon Mariano and Scottie Thompson for production with Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio still groping for form as the Gin Kings defeated NLEX, 102-92, on Sunday in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
The Gin Kings captured their first victory inside the bubble with splendid performance as well from other players to start off their Philippine Cup title bid on a high note.
Playing their first game since capturing the 2019 Governors’ Cup title, Ginebra played with a still unfit Aguilar and Tenorio being recent entrants in the bubble. The Gin Kings also saw action for the first time without Greg Slaughter in the team due to his decision to take a sabbatical.
Leading the charge for the Gin Kings is Mariano, who topscored for his team with 20 points on their way to the victory.
Jared Dillinger, Stanley Pringle and Thompson had 12 points each, while Prince Caperal, Jeff Chan, and Joe Devance each finished 11 points in an all-around effort for the Gin Kings' role players.
Ginebra pulled away from a 52-52 deadlock with a 13-2 run spearheaded by Thompson and Caperal.
NLEX threatened in the fourth quarter by cutting the deficit down to just three points, but Mariano answered with nine points including seven straight to give Ginebra a more comfortable 95-82 spread.
It was the third time Mariano scored 20 in a game in his PBA career. The last time the former UST Tiger did so was in March 10, 2019 in a 100-97 victory against Phoenix in the Philippine Cup, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.