‘Anything to win’: Japeth Aguilar OK to sacrifice scoring to help Ginebra to finals

PBA/Nuki Sabio

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel forward Japeth Aguilar isn’t getting his usual numbers in their PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup semifinals series with the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers.

For him, though, none of that matters as long as the Gin Kings get the wins.

In Game Four, he only scored seven points but grabbed 10 rebounds, blocked two shots, and scored on a crucial follow-up that put Ginebra up 82-79 in the last 1:18 of the game.

“I did the rebounding kanina. The points will come. I’m not worried about not making my 20-point games. That will come,” Aguilar said after the game.

“Basta yung sa ‘kin, I want the team to enter the finals and eventually get that trophy so that everyone will be happy.”

He acknowledged his struggles in Game Three, where he shot poorly. His coach Ato Agustin said he needed to control himself and not force things offensively.

“That’s true. Nung Game Three, gigil ako. I wasn’t making my usual shots. I was three out of 10. Yung mga move ko, yung mga drive ko in that game, usually I make them eh. I was gigil. Tapos yung mga free throw ko, they were long. Kaya kanina medyo nag-control ako kanina,” said Aguilar.

He said the San Mig Coffee defense is taking away his usual spots but he doesn’t mind adjusting his game to counter that.

“Yeah. They’re taking away my drives. So ang ginagawa ko, pinapasa ko na lang, usually kay Greg. Maganda yung pagka-cut niya sa basket kanina. We had one crucial layup from him,” he said.

“Yung role ko lang is to be there inside. Mga pulot pulot. Ok lang kahit ganoon muna ako.

“Sa akin, I’ll do anything to win.”