PBA |
By Ivan Saldajeno
SAN JUAN, MM--Raymond Aguilar shone in the dying moments of a PBA D-League Aspirants Cup game involving his alma mater team.
However, he delivered in the clutch against the said squad.
Aguilar scored a cold-blooded triple with 26.9 to help seal UP-QRS-Jam's 90-85 win over BDO-NU in the nightcap of the first day of the season-opening conference at the FilOil Flying V Arena on Thursday.
Aguilar, a former Bulldog who played during the time Edwin Asoro was the team's star in the late 2000's, atoned for a huge turnover by nailing the clutch three to lead the Fighting Maroons to the victory after the Bulldogs kept the game interesting in the final three minutes.
UP-QRS-Jam was up, 86-81, with 3:31 remaining in the game, but Pao Javelona scored a field goal to put BDO-NU to within three, 83-86, with 3:03 remaining.
The Bulldogs' defense stifled the Fighting Maroons for three minutes, but they also struggled offensively during the span. It was only snapped by a fastbreak layup from Rev Diputado off a steal against Aguilar with 48.8 seconds to go that trimmed the gap to one, 86-85.
But Aguilar made up for the blunder as he drained the dagger three off an assist from another ex-Bulldog, recently graduated Gelo Alolino, to extend the lead to four, 89-85.
Alolino's fellow RP Youth Team member Kevin Ferrer then drew an offensive foul from Alfred Aroga, and Aguilar made one of two charities at the other end for the final tally.
Ralph Tansingco missed on a field goal that could have kept BDO-NU alive.
Paul Desiderio exploded for 24 points on 7-of-8 shooting along with five rebounds, two assists, and three steals off the bench for UP-QRS-Jam, who look to bounce back from a disappointing UAAP season last year.
Aguilar, on the other hand, tallied a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds along with three assists while making all of his three triples.
Jjay Alejandro led BDO-NU with 21 points, one rebound, and five assists.
Box Scores:
UP-QRS-Jam 90-Desiderio 24, Aguilar 18, Baloria 16, Alolino 11, Ferrer 8, Batino 6, Soyud 5, Moralde 2, Asilum 0, Dario 0, Harris 0, Neypes 0, Vito 0
BDO-NU 85-Alejandro 21, Javelona 13, Aroga 10, Roño 10, Tansingco 10, Salem 8, Labingisa 4, Perez 4, Salim 3, Diputado 2, Yu 0
Quarterscores: 15-23, 38-43, 66-63, 90-85
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