THEY might be of different status with their teams—Roger Pogoy, a star guard for TNT, while Raymond Aguilar plays as a backup big man for Ginebra—but they more than proved their worth in the biggest of ways last Wednesday night.
Pogoy torched Rain or Shine with 28 points, two rebounds, and four assists as the grand slam-seeking Tropang 5G trounced the Elasto Painters 98-91 in Game 1 of their best-of-7 semifinals duel in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“We’re not the most talented team sa PBA,” Pogoy said. “But gagawin namin lahat para maging best team sa PBA.”
Making the night extra special for the sharpshooting Cebuano out of Far Eastern University was when he was awarded at halftime as the newest member of the pro league’s 5,000 points club.
Pogoy, 33, pointed to his maturity as a nine-year veteran that is working wonders in his improving game.
“Siguro iyong kapag hindi nagmamadali, iyong dahan-dahan lang,” Pogoy said. “Siguro iyon ang malaking tulong kasi, iyon nga, palaging sinasabi ng coaches sa akin na kapag umaatake, dahan-dahan lang kasi palagi akong natu-turnover dati.”
The 6-foot-5 Aguilar only scored six points but those proved to be crucial and provided an extra strong body to put the clamps on reigning eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo in the Kings’ gripping 73-71 come-from-behind victory over the San Miguel Beermen in the opening match of their race-to-4 series.
“It’s just another day in the office lang talaga. It’s our job naman na pagpasok namin talagang magbigay ng energies sa team. Iyon lang, medyo maaga napa-foul trouble si Japeth so buti na lang nakapag-step up tayo,” Aguilar said. “Kasi in-embrace ko talaga iyong role ko. So, alam ko naman iyon role ko, kung magamit o hindi, just keep ready lang.
“Hindi naman ako magpapabaya. Conditioning every day. I guess ready lang talaga kung anong mangyayari. Especially nasa playoffs na tayo.”
