Japeth Aguilar scored a career-high 32 points, including a 5-of-5 from downtown, to led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to a seventh consecutive Christmas Day victory against sister team Star Hotshots, 86-79, last December 25, 2016 at the Philippine Arena, Bocaue, Bulacan.
It was the third meeting between both teams and Ginebra took all three games.
The Gin Kings hacked out a two-point, 100-98, win over the then Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants during the 2007 Philippine Cup Eliminations for the first Christmas Day Manila Classico match-up.
Last year, both teams had to go to overtime where Tenorio swished the seventh triple basket for the period for the biggest comeback of Christmas day games and probably one of the biggest comebacks in PBA history in squeezing past the Hot Shots, 92-89.
Incidentally, a PBA record was also set that night. All overtime points from both teams came via the three-point shot.
With the win this year, Ginebra improves its record to 9-1 in Christmas day games. The Kings also bested Alaska twice; Coca-cola, San Miguel Beer, then known as Petron Blaze Boosters, and Rain or Shine once; and split their two games with Talk N Text.
It is also the seventh straight Christmas Day win for Ginebra, dating to its 2007 win over Star.
On the other hand, the Star Hotshots are not as fortunate during Christmas Day games.
They fall to a dismal 1-5 win loss record. Aside from the three losses to the Kings, they also fell to Rain or Shine, 72-98, during game 3 of the 2012-13 Philippine Cup semifinals. Star went on to loss that series in six games.
Their win came when they were still known as Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in 2009, knocking down Burger King, 85-74, in a Philippine Cup elimination match-up.
Meanwhile, the Mahindra Flood Busters drowned Blackwater, 97-93, in a battle of teams that were playing for the first time during Christmas.
BY: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS.
