BATANG PIER, KINGS COLLIDE
Japeth Aguilar was the focus of attention in his first two games with GlobalPort. And expect more eyes on him Friday when he goes up against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
Aguilar has been a steady force so far for the Batang Pier, the team that benefited from what was supposed to be a multi-player, multi-team trade deal involving the San Miguel group.
Instead of landing at Ginebra, Aguilar ended up at GlobalPort, which has suddenly become a team to watch with other new prized recruits in Sol Mercado and Kelly Nabong.
The Batang Pier are likely to give the Kings a tough test as they mix it up in the continuation of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
They play at 7:30 p.m.
“Kailangan mas lalong maging active yung import namin at mag-step up ang locals,” said new Ginebra coach Alfrancis Chua. “We don’t have much problem on defense. We have to work harder on offense.”
Chua stressed they won’t have a chance winning a game with their import starting with a 0-of-10 field shooting.
Herbert Hill was that woeful as the Kings dropped their opening game versus the Air21 Express, 70-74.
The Ginebra coaching staff and management don’t deny that they’re on the lookout for a better import.
“Naririnig naman niya siguro. Sabi ko lang sa kanya just keep on playing. That’s the best you can do,” said Chua.
The Kings need to work doubly hard with Kerby Raymundo still recovering from ailment and Billy Mamaril and Rudy Hatfield nursing sprained ankles.
The Kings’ main task is to contain Justin Williams, Aguilar, Mercado and Gary David.
An interesting match-up is Aguilar versus Rico Maierhofer – the top two picks in the 2009 PBA Draft.
The Batang Pier stunned the Petron Blaze Boosters, 94-92, on opening day before dropping an overtime heartbreaker to the Barako Bull Energy Cola, 88-98, Sunday.
They lost what had looked like a won ballgame as they went scoreless in the last two minutes of regulation and scored only two markers in OT. Barako forced the extra period on a three-pointer by Mark Macapagal with 0.9 seconds left in regulation. (SB)
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