Cone rewards Japeth with more minutes ‘to get him in shape’

Some were probably wondering why coach Tim Cone kept Japeth Aguilar on the court even though Barangay Ginebra San Miguel had already won the game against Meralco on Sunday night.

“I left him out there all the time, just to get him in shape,” Cone said after Geneva’s 105-91 win at the University of Angeles Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.

Aguilar finished with a game-high 20 points, scoring nine during a nine-minute appearance in the fourth quarter, something Cone said is something he rarely does.

But Cone explained that having such exposure even in explosive competition could bode well for Aguilar in the long run, as the MVP of last season’s Governor’s Cup Finals entered the bubble just days before the reboot.

And it has resulted in averages of 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in wins over NLEX and Blackwater.

“We don’t really have time to get him in shape by exercising because the games come so fast,” Cone said.

“Even though we have a big margin, I wasn’t going to get Japeth out. That’s unusual for me, but I saw it as purpose and to stay on the ground and keep working. Hopefully that will help him improve in our next game. “

Geneva hopes that will be the case as they enter a streak of tough matches against tough opponents.

The Kings return to action on Wednesday against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, who opened the conference with two consecutive victories.

Next up is Geneva’s “Bubble Clásico” showdown with Magnolia on Sunday, followed by a clash with another sister team in five-time defending champion San Miguel Beer on October 30.