‘Tough guy’ Mariano steps up in comeback as usual stars go cold

In a seven-game playoff series, certain role players have to elevate their game as the usual starters are bound to have an off night.

Such was the case for Aljon Mariano, as Barangay Ginebra needed every single point yet again from its lineup to escape TNT anew, 92-90, for a commanding 2-0 lead in the 2020 PBA Finals.

With starting forward Japeth Aguilar going cold with only 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 turnovers in 28 minutes, Mariano took over the reins with a 20-point eruption off the bench with a 7-of-11 shooting clip, and 9 rebounds.

“We needed a tough guy in the game today, because we weren’t playing with a lot of toughness tonight,” said head coach Tim Cone in the post-game presser. “We were really lacking in toughness, and Aljon just took over for us.

“He made a couple of big moves on his own. Real strong moves that kind of lifted the whole team.”

Ginebra’s hopes looked bleak well into the second half as TNT held on to a 15-point lead, 56-41, with 7:16 left in the third quarter. However, Mariano, and eventual top scorer Stanley Pringle conspired for a momentum-shifting run to make it a 68-all game with 22 ticks left in the frame.

“That’s what Aljon does for us. He’s that tough guy. He comes out on the floor, plays through everything, he plays through my yelling at him. He really just comes out to play all the time. That’s a guy that compensates what we lack on our team,” Cone said.

After going scoreless for nearly the whole game, team stars Scottie Thompson and LA Tenorio then finally showed up to put the finishing touches for Ginebra in the thrilling comeback win.

While Cone acknowledged that Mariano still has some holes in his game that need plugging, he nonetheless gave credit where credit is due, especially in this crucial game.

“He’s super valuable. He’s been growing his game over the last two or three years. There’s been times where he’s been brilliant, and other times where he’s buried on the bench,” he said.

“He always comes back out there, and we always end up saying, ‘Oh, where’s Aljon? We gotta get Aljon out there.’”

Whether he plays for 3 or 30 minutes next game, Ginebra fans can rest easy knowing Mariano will always play his role for the benefit of the team. – Rappler.com