PBA: Ginebra could miss injured Japeth for do-or-die against Rain or Shine

Fan favorite Barangay Ginebra suffered double misfortune on Wednesday night after bowing to Alaska, slipping down to eighth spot while losing Japeth Aguilar to an ankle sprain.

 

The team is facing the possibility of facing the league-leading Rain or Shine without one-half of their twin towers, making their playoff campaign a lot harder in addition to a twice-to-win disadvantage.

 

Aguilar sustained the injury after failing to stop his momentum on a fastbreak, twisting his ankle just after Alaska guard JVee Casio fouled him under the basket.

 

"Pagka-twist ko, nung i-try ko siyang ibalik, may nag-pop so dun na ko napahiga," said the forward, who added that he was trying to dunk the ball but anticipated Casio's contact.

 

Aguilar was having one of his best games of the conference, scoring 17 points in 23 minutes on the court. He said he would have continued playing, but decided not to force it.

 

"Kanina gusto ko pang i-take 'yung free throw kaso lang hindi ko na talaga matiis," he said.

 

Gin Kings' head coach Ato Agustin is hopeful that he would be able to play on Saturday, as they would be needing his presence against Rain or Shine's big men Beau Belga, JR Quinahan, and Raymond Almazan.

 

"I hope na mild lang 'yung sprain niya kasi tiningnan namin kanina medyo hindi naman namaga pero masakit daw," the coach said. —JST, GMA News