Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s Japeth Aguilar suffered a setback in his much-awaited return after re-injuring the calf that forced him to miss the first three games of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
Coach Tim Cone said Aguilar had to leave after playing 10 minutes in the Gin Kings’ 95-84 win Wednesday, April 13 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum that put their title series with the Bolts even at 2-2.
“I didn't take him out,” Cone said. “He had to leave the game because he was starting to feel the calf injury. I don’t know how badly it was reinjured.”
Cone also thought that he gave Aguilar too many playing minutes after being sidelined for actually the last six games.
Aguilar got hurt during Game 1 of Ginebra’s semifinal series with NLEX after challenging a shot attempt by import Cameron Clark.
The athletic big man had been hinting at a possible return when he was in uniform for both Game 2 and 3.
“I was trying not to overplay him,’ Cone said. “I only played him for like three or four minutes in the first half. I saw him getting tired in the second half, but we were making a run, and I didn't have the discipline to take him out.
“I should have had more discipline to take him out. And if he has that injury again, that's on me. That's not on him.”
Aguilar later said that his calf was beginning to tighten, which prompted him to cut short his return.
“When I got out of I think like third quarter, I feel like medyo nagtatight na siya ulit. Nagfa-fatigue na siya,” he said. “So nung pagpasok ko ng fourth, konting takbo ko, nag-tight na siya ulit.”
Despite the concerns, Cone felt Aguilar played a crucial factor in the Gin Kings avoiding a dreaded 3-1 hole with his presence on both ends of the floor.
“He did come out and play when we really needed him,” said Cone. “You could see the impact he had on the floor. I mean, the impact defensively, the impact offensively, they had to play us a little differently.”