GLOBALPORT import Justin Williams beats Petron Blaze’s June Mar Fajardo to the rebound a few minutes before he was sent off. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
JAPETH Aguilar gave some justice to the hype that surrounded him during the season break.
Aguilar came to Globalport’s rescue in the stretch as the Batang Pier nipped the powerhouse Petron Blaze Boosters, 94-92, despite playing their first PBA Commissioner’s Cup game without an import in the final 20 minutes at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 6-foot-9 beanpole, who ended his holdout when Talk ‘N Text traded him to the Batang Pier just last week, hit the game’s final three free throws while pulling down some crucial rebounds that helped seal the upset.
Globalport lost import Justin Williams with still 8:18 left in the third to a flagrant foul 2 call on June Mar Fajardo, but the Batang Pier never lost heart and piggy-backed on Gary David, Sol Mercado and Aguilar to the rousing win.
“I begged the players to hang on, to make the game close so we could pull an upset in the end,” coach Junel Baculi, also a new addition to the Globalport bench, said. “It’s a lucky win. We have a lot of jelling to do.”
In the second game, Barako Bull survived a San Mig Coffee squad that played without an import the entire game as Danny Seigle came through in the clutch for a 79-75 victory.
The scores:
First Game
GLOBALPORT 94—David 28, Williams 18, Mercado 17, Aguilar 16, Yee 8, Salvador 3, Nabong 2, Miller 2, Deutchman 0, Lingganay 0, Juntilla 0, Aljamal 0, Adducul 0.
PETRON 92—Balkman 23, Santos 15, Tubid 12, Cabagnot 11, Lanete 9, Washington 7, Miranda 6, Fajardo 5, Yeo 2, Pena 2, Lutz 0.
Quarters: 19-16, 39-45, 64-69, 94-92
Second Game
BARAKO BULL 79—Brock 18, Urbiztondo 17, Villanueva 16, Macapagal 8, Seigle 8, Maliksi 7, Pennisi 5, Duncil 0, Kramer 0, Allado 0.
SAN MIG COFFEE 75—Yap 19, Reavis 13, Simon 11, Najorda 8, Devance 6, Pingris 6, Mallari 5, Barroca 4, Alvarez 3, Gonzales 0.
Quarters: 16-19, 38-36, 55-52, 79-75