GINEBRA WELCOMES AGUILAR AS KINGS FACE BOOSTERS
Barangay Ginebra, with its new look, makes its keenly awaited first appearance in the PBA Governors Cup Sunday night, tangling with Petron Blaze at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It’s the start of a new journey for the Kings, a team beaming with new radiance under new coach Ato Agustin and with a lineup now featuring the tall, slam-dunking Japeth Aguilar.
The Kings get their initial test versus the Petron Blaze Booster in the 6:30 p.m. mainer in a wet Sunday.
Aguilar joins the Kings coming from his much appreciated performance with Gilas Pilipinas in the just concluded 27th FIBA Asia Championship.
The 6-foot-9 highly athletic player was among the big toasts in Gilas’ successful run as he finally put into good use his great gift, making a big breakthrough in the regional world championship qualifier.
With towering rebounds, crucial blocks and jams that rocked the Mall of Asia Arena crowd, Aguilar helped energize Gilas Pilipinas particularly in crucial victories over Japan, Qatar and South Korea.
A player who used to shy away from banging inside, Aguilar, at FIBA Asia, was always right there in action at the paint and high above the basket.
He also knocked down perimeter jumper when opportunity called for it.
The Kings and their adoring fans are hopeful Aguilar brings all these in his transfer to Ginebra from Globalport.
The Kings are returning into action after their stirring runner-up finish behind the Alaska Milk Aces in the recent Commissioner’s Cup.
Ginebra now also brandishes new look on the bench with Agustin taking over from coach-on-leave Alfrancis Chua.
Curiously, Agustin plays his first game with Ginebra against the very team, Petron Blaze, he steered to the championship in the 2011 Governors Cup.
A team that also underwent overhaul during the break, Petron Blaze got off to a losing start, bowing to Meralco, 83-89, Friday.
The Ginebra-Petron tussle also features the showdown between imports Dior Lowhorn and Elijah
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