MANILA – Regardless of how far their Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Philippine Cup title defense goes, the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings will be without standout forward Japeth Aguilar.
According to Kings’ head coach Tim Cone, the 6-foot-9 cager has been declared out for the remainder of the conference as his medial collateral ligament (MCL) strain is taking time to heal. Aguilar sustained the injury last September 12 during Ginebra’s 88-67 loss against TNT Tropang Giga.
The former Gilas Pilipinas center was sent home from the Bacolor, Pampanga bubble to recover.
“It’s our opinion at this point that he’s out for the rest of the conference,” the PBA Grand Slam mentor said. “I don’t [see] any possibility to get him back. And if we did, we might rush him back and injure him again.”
“He’s devastated. He wants to play. He should’ve gone home a week or two ago after the injury, but he kept trying to get it done. But it was obvious now that he’s not gonna be able to make it,” Cone added.
Aguilar, 34, averaged 14.6 points on 52.3 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in eight conference games for the defending champions Kings.
The squad will face no. 1 seed Tropang Giga in the quarterfinals this afternoon. Tropang Giga holds a two-to-beat advantage.
Apart from Aguilar, veteran guard Earl Scottie Thompson is questionable to suit up for the Kings due to his compliance with the league’s coronavirus disease 2019 health and safety rules.
“We are hoping that the league can clear Scottie to play from the health and safety protocols,” Cone said. “Even if he is to be cleared (on Wednesday morning) he can still play a good 30 minutes for us.”/PN
