ONE player set a PBA D-League record for most rebounds in a game on Thursday, his feat so good that it matched a PBA record that has stood for almost 40 years now.
His name? Jay-R Taganas.
The unheralded 6-4 forward hauled down 29 rebounds for the AMA University Titans in a 70-75 loss to Cagayan Valley in a PBA D-League Foundation Cup game at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Taganas’ mark was so impressive that, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, the former San Beda Red Cub and Red Lion even matched the PBA record for most rebounds in a game by a local player.
That record was set by 7-Up’s Marcelo Simbulan on June 1, 1975 during the pro league's inaugural season and it has gone untouched despite the arrival of bigger, more athletic PBA players.
According to PBA records, the all-time record for most rebounds in a game was 45, set by former Ginebra import Michael Hackett in 1985, while naturalized player Jeff Moore had 32 in a 1985 game with Northern Consolidated.
Taganas, 27, played the entire 40 minutes for AMA, with 11 of his rebounds coming from the offensive end.
[See Maynilad employee Jay-R Taganas makes D-League comeback as he pursues shelved PBA dream]
Taganas played the entire match even as AMA has already added a few bigs in Magi Sison and Dexter Maiquez to its lineup.
“Malaking pagbabago dahil nadagdagan ako ng bigs na magro-rotate. Although ‘yung Taganas, talagang nandiyan parati ‘yan ng ganun katagal, at least nag-rorotate,” said AMA coach Mark Herrera.