VETERAN Japeth Aguilar is embracing his new role as elder statesman of Barangay Ginebra.
The 38-year-old center said it has dawned upon himself that as the senior player of the Kings, he should start carrying the load for the team especially in its ongoing campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup.
"I have that role now in the team. Dati si LA (Tenorio) yun. When LA was not there, it was Jared (Dillinger). Kailangan kong maging conscious. I just want to bring positivity like my body language, my reaction," he said.
As part of his job, Aguilar led Barangay Ginebra to a 101-99 thriller against hard-fighting Blackwater Friday night, hitting the corner jumper for the game-winner at the Philsports Arena.
He finished with a team-high 22 points including nine in the fourth quarter when the Kings had to overcome a huge fightback from the Bossing.
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Aguilar was 8-of-12 from the field, 6-of-7 from the foul line, while adding six rebounds, and two assists in the Kings' third straight win for a 5-2 record in a tie with San Miguel.
"Ako na yung pinaka-senior sa team. It got to start sa akin kasi ako na yung pinaka-senior sa team," he said, further elaborating his new role.
Coach Tim Cone acknowledged Aguilar now serves as the pillar of Ginebra's frontcourt - late as it may in his career - after previously playing behind Greg Slaughter and Christian Standhardinger.
"He is really coming through. He was, if I may say, the Robin to Greg (Slaughter) and the Robin to Christian (Standhardinger). And now, he is our Batman," said Cone.(RG)
