Aguilar saves day for Globalport

Japeth Aguilar had ranted about not getting the playing time he felt he deserved in his first two years in the PBA.
Friday night, as if by design, he got the stage all to himself and rescued Globalport.
Playing without an import in the last 20 minutes, the Batang Pier got the goods from Aguilar and a couple of others in a 94-92 decision of powerhouse Petron Blaze that got elimination round action in the Commissioner’s Cup going at the Araneta Coliseum.
Aguilar finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in a 37-minute stint, hitting the final three free throws for the Batang Pier while coming up with some solid hustle on both ends to seal the reversal.
The win not only announced the coming of the Batang Pier as a legitimate power in the league after two blockbuster trades in the off-season, it also snapped a 10-game losing streak dating back to the Philippine Cup won by Talk ‘N Text.
Gary David paced the Batang Pier with 28 points and Sol Mercado added 17 and 11 assists, quarterbacking Globalport with great effect and making everyone wonder why he was traded by Meralco just two weeks ago.
Justin Williams was thrown out with still 8:18 to go in the third quarter after planting an elbow on the face of Petron rookie June Mar Fajardo in a rebound play.
But that only propped up the spirits of the Batang Pier, who stuck at the coattails of the Boosters before letting it all hang out in the endgame to provide an upset for an ending right in the tournament’s first game.
“I begged the players to hand on, to make the game close so we could pull an upset in the end,” new Globalport coach Junel Baculi said. “It’s a lucky win. We still have a lot of jelling to do.” Baculi was then asked to clear the air on possible trades involving Aguilar with Barangay Ginebra. His answer raised more questions.
“We need a big man out there,” Baculi said. “I think we’ll stay with Japeth for the meantime.” Still, Aguilar’s game was clearly the story of the night, and Baculi said that his performance was just the tip of the iceberg.
“He still has a lot to show, he is still raw,” Baculi said of Aguilar.
San Mig Coffee opened defense of its title on the wrong foot later in the night by bowing to Barako Bull, 79-75.
The Mixers also played without an import but their fortunes weren’t the same as of the Batang Pier’s, as San Mig lost steam in the endgame.
Evan Brock led the Energy with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Josh Urbiztondo had 17 and nine as Barako Bull also scored an upset or sorts after the Mixers showed up minus Matt Rogers.
The San Mig import fell to food poisoning and was in and out of the hospital for the last two days, leaving a gaping hole in the middle for the Mixers, who won this tournament in seven pulsating games over Talk ‘N Text with the talented Denzel Bowles.
Bowles is still playing as an import in the Chinese Basketball Association and could be back when his contract there expires and if Rogers proves to be a disappointment in the long run.
Rajko Toroman, the Serbian who steered Iran to the Olympics four years ago, actively called the shots on the Barako Bull bench as a consultant.