KIM Aurin shrugged off a bout with the flu and helped TNT pull off a thrilling overtime win over San Miguel in a huge way.
The shooting guard out of University of Perpetual Help nailed three clutch baskets from three-point range in the extra period in steering the defending PBA Governors’ Cup champion to a 93-89 win over the Beermen Saturday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Aurin finished with a career-high 22 points including nine in overtime. His final three for the night put TNT on top for good, 89-87, in the final 25 seconds of extra time.
READ: Kim Aurin the unlikely hero as TNT survives King, SMB in OT
He ended up shooting 8-of-13 from the field including 6-of-10 from three-point range, while adding a total of eight rebounds.
And to think he was not feeling well on the morning of the game, and needed some prodding from injured captain Roger Pogoy and an inspirational bible verse to be convinced from playing in the all-important game makes this all the more impressive.
“Actually kahapon pa masama ang pakiramdam ko and pag gising ko kanina parang tatrangkasuhin na talaga ako,” said Aurin.
“Tinawagan ko pa si Roger kasi masama talaga ang pakiramdam ko. And yun nga may nakita akong bible verse (Isaiah 14:31) nakalagay, ‘Those who hope in the Lord, they will renew their strength.’ Pinang-hawakan ko lang yun. Buti dininig naman ako ni Lord.”
That’s what Aurin kept going, together with the rest of the Tropang 5G, who improved to a 3-2 record after winning their second straight game.
Coach Chot Reyes mentioned Aurin as among the discreet and down-to-earth players at TNT.
"But he lets his game do the talking," Reyes said.
On this night, Aurin did just that.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
