Barangay Ginebra concerned about Japeth Aguilar’s condition ahead of Game 7 showdown vs. San Miguel

Barangay Ginebra San Miguel needed a miracle to defeat the San Miguel Beermen in Game 6 of their Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, July 6 — and they got it from the league’s very own “Iron Man,” LA Tenorio.

Barangay Ginebra stunned San Miguel, 88–87, coming from behind as Tenorio drained a game-winning three-pointer to complete a dramatic victory. The 40-year-old veteran changed the complexion of the game after coming off the bench in the fourth quarter to score 11 points — including the clutch shot with 3.1 seconds left on the clock.

However, heading into the do-or-die Game 7, Barangay Ginebra is concerned about the fitness of veteran forward Japeth Aguilar. Head coach Tim Cone admitted after their Game 6 win that the 38-year-old is currently dealing with fatigue issues following a long conference, in addition to his practice sessions with the Philippine men’s national basketball team.

#WATCH: “CLASSIC”

Japeth Aguilar was left speechless after Ginebra’s miracle Game 6 win that kept their #PBA2025 season alive 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/mDsJOnE81e

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— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) July 6, 2025

“He has had some fatigue issues throughout the series, and we’re just trying to keep his energy levels up. Trying to maximize Japeth’s minutes against June Mar Fajardo is really difficult because he gives up 30 or 40 pounds easily. Battling him is like trying to push a wall all day,” Cone said in the post-match press conference.

“If you keep pushing that wall all day, you’re going to get tired. It’s really on us and the staff to get him ready. We’re working to overcome those fatigue issues and keep him fresh,” he added.

Despite showing visible signs of fatigue in Game 6 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Aguilar still managed to log 32 minutes of playing time, occasionally asking Cone to substitute him during the fourth quarter. He finished with 16 points, four rebounds, and a block.

“We’ll take Game 7 as it comes. The coaching staff will worry about that, while the players focus on getting themselves ready,” Cone concluded.

With the best-of-seven semifinal series now tied at 3–3, the decisive Game 7 — a winner-takes-all clash — is scheduled for Wednesday, July 9, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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