By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — Japeth Aguilar exploded for 32 points, including 5-of-5 from three-point range, as the Barangay Ginebra Kings rebounded from a humiliating loss to Alaska in their last game with an 86-79 domination of the Star Hotshots in the PBA Philippine Cup Sunday night.
The game was watched by more than 20,000 roaring fans at the Philippine Arena, the world’s biggest indoor arena.
Aguilar also had 12 rebounds and two blocks in the win, Ginebra’s third in six outings. The Kings thus tied Phoenix, Alaska and Star at sixth to ninth place in the team standings.
Joe Devance provided steady back-up, finishing with 17 points and six rebounds. Scottie Thompson only had five points but had a team-high 17 boards and seven assists.
Paul Lee led Star with 20 points but was silenced by the Ginebra defense in the endgame.
Marc Pingris and Allein Maliksi added 14 and 13, respectively.
Mahindra 97, Blackwater 93
The Mahindra Floodbuster finally found a way to break into the win column, coming from behind to stun giant-killer Blackwater Elite in overtime, 97-93.
New recruit and go-to guy Alex Mallari proved unstoppable in the final quarter and in the five-minute extension, firing 12 of his career-high tying 23 points during that span. The former Star Hotshot also grabbed 11 boards and had three steals in the win, which finally snapped a five-game losing streak since the start of the season.
Down by 15 points, 79-64, with 7:50 to play in the fourth, the Floodwaster uncorked a 19-4 run to tie the game at 83-all. They could have won the game outright in regulation had they converted two hurried shots under the basket just before the buzzer.
Mahindra stayed hot in overtime, with Ryan Arana drilled a three-pointer to start the extension period. The Floodbuster enjoyed a seven-point lead as the clock was winding down. The Elite managed to come to within two, 95-93, but that was the closest they could come as Mahindra finished them off with a series of free throws.
Arana finished with 19 points and six rebounds, while Nico Salva had 14 markers and and four boards for Mahindra.
Mahindra also defeated Blackwater at the Philippine Arena in the curtain-raiser of the 2014-15 season, when the two franchises debut in the pro league.
Art dela Cruz paced the Elite in the losing effort with 18 points, six rebounds, and four steals, as Blackwater fell to a 4-3 win-loss record, good for solo fifth place in the standings.
Nard Pinto added 15 markers, seven assists, and five boards, while Mac Belo had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Games Wednesday: GlobalPort Batang Pier vs. Phoenix Fuel Masters and Meralco Bolts vs. San Miguel Beermen.
