Japeth saves Kings anew at the buzzer

MANILA, Philippines -- Barangay Ginebra lit fireworks three nights ahead of New Year’s Eve as the Kings made an improbable comeback from five points down in the last 15 seconds and jolted the Meralco Bolts, 83-82, in the Petron Blaze-sponsored PBA Saturday Special at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The PLDT MyDSL PBA Philippine Cup front-runners came through with the game-saving back-to-back three-pointers from unlikely sources JayR Reyes and Japeth Aguilar – the last one at the buzzer sending the predominantly Ginebra crowd to a great ecstasy.

Aguilar delivered the dagger trey off Reynel Hugnatan, providing a surreal climax to another night of dunking spree for the ultra-athletic 6-foot-9 forward.

Rising up from death bed, the Kings firmed up their hold of the lead with a sixth straight win and ninth in 10 games in all.

The Kings faced imminent loss against the very team that dealt them their lone defeat in the tourney as they stared at a five-point deficit, 77-82, with 15.1 ticks left.

Ginebra refused to lose, though, and as Reyes and Aguilar connected with the surprise three-point bombs, the Kings sent the Bolts reeling to a seventh loss against three wins.

“We’re just really lucky,” said Ginebra coach Ato Agustin.

True enough, the Kings pulled through just with the help of huge breaks at the finish.

For one, the Bolts bungled no less than five charities in the last 90 seconds of play.

Former Ginebra player John Wilson muffed three in the last 15 seconds, the last one enabling Ginebra to get final possession.

Actually, LA Tenorio nearly fumbled the ball before handing it out to Aguilar atop the key with three seconds to go.

With one dribble and side step, Aguilar gained some breathing room off Hugnatan, then launched the three-pointer that hit the target.

A little earlier, Reyes bombed away his own triple coming off the bench.

The Gins Kings totaled nine three-pointers in the game as against the Bolts’ three.

Even then, the Bolts dragged the heavily favored Kings to a battle and nearly repeated an upset with their good game plan.

“Meralco deserves credit they played great especially on defense. They were able to control our bigs, and they really made it difficult for us with their quickness,” Agustin also said.

The Bolts ran the breaks at every opportunity. Without an opening, they used the clock to find the best attempt possible.

In the end, they’re able to battle the Kings through 10 dead locks and 18 lead changes.