Brgy. Ginebra opens Commissioner’s Cup campaign with 9-point win over NLEX
Brgy. Ginebra kicked off the PBA Commissioner’s Cup with a bang, showcasing their prowess in a compelling 109-100 victory over NLEX at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Wednesday night.
The turning point came in the third quarter, where Stephen Holt delivered an electrifying performance, sinking all five of his three-point attempts and finishing with a total of 20 points during a decisive 36-23 Ginebra blitz that turned a narrow 42-43 deficit at halftime into a commanding lead.
Justin Brownlee also made significant contributions, scoring eight points, including two of four from beyond the arc, helping the Kings secure a triumphant start to the conference against an undefeated NLEX team (3-2) that had previously won three straight games.
Holt, last season’s standout rookie, wrapped up the night with an impressive 26 points, accompanied by two rebounds and two assists, while Brownlee notched 24 points and pulled down 12 boards, giving a warm and victorious welcome to new Ginebra recruit Troy Rosario.
Supporting efforts came from Japeth Aguilar and Maverick Ahanmisi, who added 15 and 13 points, respectively. Rosario, making his debut for Ginebra, contributed nine points, seven rebounds, and three assists, after starting alongside Aguilar, Holt, Thompson, and Brownlee. Despite a slow start where Rosario struggled with a shooting percentage of 1-of-5 in the first half, he found his rhythm as the game progressed.
Initially, the entire Ginebra squad faced challenges on the court. NLEX capitalized on this, led by import Mike Watkins, who recorded a double-double by halftime and helped the Road Warriors seize a slim 43-42 lead. Watkins dominated the early stages with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while NLEX shot a respectable 40.5%, making 17 of 42 attempts.
However, the Kings exploded out of the halftime locker room, quickly overturning the deficit and establishing a substantial 78-66 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. From that point on, it was all Ginebra.
Watkins ultimately finished with a game-high 27 points, while Robert Bolick and Kevin Alas chipped in 18 and 14 points, respectively, for the Road Warriors, who faced a tough defeat.
