Quality minutes from the lesser-known Aguilar helps Ginebra repulse NLEX.
When Raymond Aguilar plays, its usually one of two things: The Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings are either blowing out the other team or are getting blown out themselves.
But on Wednesday night against the NLEX Road Warriors, the seldom-used backup was called on to play meaningful minutes—finally and by necessity. Down their two All-Star bigs in Christian Standhardinger (out for the game due to a knee injury) and Japeth Aguilar (limited in-game after injuring his knee), the Gin Kings were thoroughly dominated inside the paint in the third quarter, when NLEX seemingly took charge.
Aguilar, the All-Star, tried giving it a go, but it was clear he was severely limited by his hurting knee. It left Ginebra coach Tim Cone no other choice but to field in Aguilar, the seldom-used backup, with a little over six minutes left in the game.
And Raymond was more than ready for his moment.
He rewarded Cone’s trust, giving the Gin Kings a jolt of energy as they fought back from a 93-102 deficit. Justin Brownlee and Jeremiah Gray did most of the scoring, but the yeoman’s work of the 36-year-old on the defensive end was just as crucial, as he controlled the glass for Ginebra—like a big man is supposed to.
“He played some crucial minutes, and we really needed him to step up because we just didn’t have the size,” said Cone of his hardworking backup big. “I was really pleased to see Raymond out there and do the things he does well. He rebounded well, he dove after loose balls, and he stayed within himself and did his job.”
In other words, Raymond Aguilar did exactly what he was supposed to do—and he was able to do all that because he was ready. He stayed ready and kept working behind the scenes, even if he rarely ever played meaningful minutes.
That is a valuable lesson for all basketball players out there at any level.