Ginebra wrests solo lead as Japeth spoils Stanley's return to NorthPort

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra scored a 104-98 wire-to-wire victory at the expense of NorthPort in the nightcap of Wednesday's PBA Governors' Cup skirmishes at the Big Dome.

Japeth Aguilar scored eight of Ginebra's final 10 points in the final four minutes of the game, spoiling the return of Stanley Pringle who mounted a valiant performance for the Batang Pier.

"We were in survival mode, trying to see if we can survive games at this point. We need to be a lot better than what we're playing," Gin Kings mentor Tim Cone said.

"We're not staying to our character at this point. We're doing what we can to survive and win games but we need to find our discipline a little bit more, we need to find a better flow and better focus on defense ... The game could've gone either way," he added.

NorthPort, with its star guard Pringle back, managed to reduce what was once a 19-point lead by the Gin Kings. The crafty guard's floater at the final minute narrowed to gap to just three. 

Aguilar, who Cone lauded in the presser, proved to be too much for the Batang Pier. He finished with 23 points and nine boards. 

NorthPort  dropped to 0-4 in the Governors' Cup. 

Barangay Ginebra takes on Blackwater next on Sept. 21, while NorthPort seeks to notch that elusive win against TNT on the 30th.

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The Scores

GINEBRA 104 - Brownlee 27, Aguilar J 23, Slaughter 18, Tenorio 18, Ferrer 6, Mariano 4, Thompson 4, Chan 2, Caguioa 2. 

NORTHPORT 98 - Pringle 34, Woods 28, Tautuaa 11, Anthony 9, Taha 6, Fortuna 5, Guinto 3, Grey 2, Arana 0, Espinas 0, Gabayni 0.

Quarters: 33-15, 57-41, 79-73, 104-98.