Sep 24, 2018

Reserved forward Aljon Mariano stepping up at the right time


Aljon Mariano relishes the opportunity to be able to help Ginebra bounce back from Friday's overtime loss to Blackwater in the PBA Governors' Cup.

Mariano delivered in the clutch as the injury-plagued Kings survived the absence of key players Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar in a 110-102 victory against San Miguel Sunday night.

The seldom-used forward tied his career-high 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds indicating his ability to step up when the going gets tough.

"Sinabi sa amin ni coach (Tim Cone) na kailangan makapondo kami ng panalo para pag nakabalik na mga key players namin, sana nasa magandang position kami going into the playoffs," Mariano said after Sunday's triumph at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ginebra improved to 4-1 to keep early leaders Blackwater (4-0) and Phoenix (5-1) within sight.
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Slaughter is out with an ankle injury he sustained against NorthPort last Sept. 5 while Aguilar hurt his calf while playing for Team Pilipinas in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers against Qatar last week. There's no time table for the duo's return.

Sol Mercado, who has yet to recover from surgery on his meniscus, Jervy Cruz (foot) and rookie Julian Sargent (shoulder) have been ruled out for the rest of the conference. Art dela Cruz, meanwhile, is still recovering from an Achilles tendon.

Joe Devance, who was just two-games back from injury, is not yet 100 percent but dished out a solid performance against the Beeermen with 17 points and seven assists.

"Sabi din ni coach na kailangan maging deep yung lineup namin kasi yung mga di nabibigyan masyado ng minutes last conference, nabibigyan na ngayon," Mariano said.

"Nakukuha na nila ang rhythm nila kaya para pagbalik nila Greg at Japeth, ready na kami."(JT)
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