NEVER SAY DIE
In a very physical game between Barangay Ginebra San Miguel and Meralco last December 28, Japeth Aguilar felt that he can’t get anything going.
“Start pa lang ng game, I felt really tired na talaga. Pagod na pagod ako. I couldn’t move, couldn’t play good defense, couldn’t move my feet. Parang nahihirapan ako sa ilalim. I was really frustrated kanina,” he said.
“They were really physical. I really felt na I was always fouled every time I drove, nawawala sa akin yung bola.”
But the basketball gods smiled his way, saving his best for last.
With 11 seconds remaining on the clock and LA Tenorio getting corralled by Anjo Caram, the 6-foot-10 forward got the ball from his point guard, set his feet beyond the three-point line, shrugging off Reynel Hugnatan in the process, and popped up for the game-winner, sending the ball to the bottom of the net.
It was reminiscent of his buzzer-beating three-pointer against Talk ‘N Text last December 8, where Aguilar saved the day for the Kings from almost the same spot and the same play, with Tenorio giving the rock to Aguilar as time slowly chipped away.
“Yung last actually, parang binigay na rin sa amin ni Lord. Gusto kong mag-thank you kay Lord kasi sa kanya talaga galing yung win na yon,” he said.
Aguilar had no doubt in his mind that as long as there is still time, they still have a chance to win the game, echoing the familiar Ginebra “never say die” spirit.
Ginebra trailed Meralco by five points in the final 15.1 ticks, but a corner three by Jay-R Reyes, who came into the game for Greg Slaughter, kept their hopes alive. Mark Caguioa then fouled John Wilson, who failed to can any of his freebies, and the offensive rebound by Jared Dillinger bounced off of his knee, sending the ball back to Ginebra.
“We have to give credit to Jay-R because when he popped out, he shot the ball, and he didn’t have any hesitation. We were just lucky kasi yung free throws ng Meralco, they missed four in the end,” said Aguilar. “Pagtingin ko ng oras, may mga 11 seconds pa yun, sabi ko, habang may oras pa, may chance pa kaming manalo.”
That set the stage for Aguilar’s three-point bomb which sent the raucous Mall of Asia Arena crowd into a frenzy.
“If we lose, we lose. But if ever I get the ball, the same with the Talk ‘N Text game, I’m gonna take the shot,” Aguilar said.
“It was a really hard-fought game and you have to give credit to Meralco for pushing us to the limit,” he added.
“We were really blessed. Buti na lang binigay sa amin ni Lord yung game. Talagang breaks of the game na lang talaga, and fortunately, it went our way.” (RLeongson)
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