Aguilar surprised with Ginebra's comeback vs NLEX

MANILA, Philippines — The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings found themselves in a deep hole on Wednesday as they trailed by as much as 19 points against the NLEX Road Warriors in their PBA Philippine Cup clash at the Mall of Asia Arena.

And as the Road Warriors dictated the game until a pivotal run in the second half, many thought that the Road Warriors were going to run away with the victory.

Even Ginebra stalwart Japeth Aguilar had that notion.

"We had a really bad start, [a] slow start, and NLEX came out really scorching red hot. To be honest with you, I thought we were gonna get blown out by 20 points," Aguilar said after the 83-75 victory.

"And we were never gonna comeback. [But] I'm happy we found a way and we got the win," he continued.

Aguilar was pivotal in a 13-0 scoring run in the third salvo where Ginebra stormed back from 19 points down to cut it to just six, 52-58.

And although NLEX still finished the quarter with the lead, 63-58, Ginebra were able to make it a game.

It was only halfway through the fourth salvo where Ginebra took their first lead of the game, 69-67, with 6:04 ticks left.

Aguilar commended the team, then, of how they were able to work it little by little to eventually get back and pull the rug from under NLEX.

"We talked about it on the bench just one possession at a time. As long as we do the right things, make some stops, and execute on offense, ayun. One possession at a time," he said.

The character-building win comes at an opportune time before Ginebra head coach Tim Cone leaves his team for a while for a stint in the NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat.

Cone will be there for Ginebra's game on Friday against the San Miguel Beermen, but he will be absent in their games during the first two weeks of July.

The Gin Kings, who are currently 3-1, will look to build on the momentum even during Cone's absence.