source: gmanews.tv
Welcome to the big league, Japeth Aguilar.
A rude reception greeted the year’s top rookie pick in his Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) debut as Purefoods walloped Burger King, 93-80, in the lone game ushering the 2009-2010 Philippine Cup Sunday night before a big crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
All eyes were obviously on the 6-foot-10 former Western Kentucky stalwart, who created quite a stir in the off-season for initially refusing to sign up with the Whopper, the team that picked him no. 1 overall in the last Draft.
But the Giants, playing with more passion and cohesion, immediately made people forget about Aguilar by dominating the game from start to finish and registered the most lopsided season-opening game since Mobiline downed Tanduay, 90-64, in 1999.
Kerby Raymundo, proving he’s still among the force to reckon with inside the paint, led the Giants’ first half breakaway, scoring 11 of his 19 points during that stretch.
New Purefoods acquisition Rafi Reavis also came up big inside the paint, scoring 14 points, grabbing a game-high 20 rebounds, while doing the big task trying to contain Aguilar at the other end.
“It’s always nice to win the first game. We want to start on the right foot, but it will have to take so many games to be in the destination where want to be in. Our new guys performed well, especially Reavis," said Purefoods coach Ryan Gregorio.
Aguilar finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and a block shot in 24 minutes of playing time.
“Obviously, he (Aguilar) can make a team grow," said Gregorio, trying to be nice to the controversial rookie big man. “Given more time, he will be as good as advertised."
Purefoods led by as many as 26 points (65-39) in the third period, a cushion brought about by numerous hustles and rattling defensive patterns in the first half against a team that ended the 2008-09 season at No. 2 in terms of scoring.
Chico Lanete led the Whopper with 14 points while Gary David and Wynne Arboleda combined for 24. JR Quinahan contributed eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Aguilar started a little bit sloppy, often times losing his man in the defensive rotation. He came into the game at the 9:10 mark of the first quarter, committed a turnover two minutes later while down low before getting his first two points on a follow-up of his own miss with 6:21 to play in the second period.
The Giants held the Whopper under 20 points in the first two periods, including 14 in the first quarter, and held an already commanding 48-31 lead at the break.
Purefoods led largest at 45-22 in the first half on a three-point play by Raymundo off Aguilar.
The scores
Purefoods (93) -- Raymundo 19, Simon 17, Reavis 14, Yap J. 12, Maierhofer 9, Yap R. 6, Allado 6, Artadi 5, Canaleta 3, Pingris 2, Timberlake 0.
Burger King (80) -- Lanete 14, David 13, Arboleda 11, Aguilar 10, Quinahan 8, Buenafe 7, Yee 5, Matias 4, Yee 4, Belga 2, Sharma 2, Aban 0.
Quarterscores: 21-14, 43-31, 72-52, 93-80.
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