ANTIPOLO – PBA commissioner Willie Marcial's with import Jaylen Johsnon and veteran Raymond Aguilar convinced the two players to bury the hatchet before Game 6 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals between Barangay Ginebra and Rain or Shine.
Marcial though clarified it wasn’t a summon, but more of a pep talk which he did in the aftermath of the verbal tussle that occurred between Johnson and Aguilar on the way to the dugout following the Kings’ 111-104 win in Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ Jaylen Johnson, Raymond Aguilar put shouting match behind them
“Kinausap ko sila bago ng game. And sinabi ko lang yung trash talk natural lang during games. Pero dapat pag tapos na ang laro, wala na rin yun,” said the commissioner.
No fines were meted on the two players, according to Marcial.
That probably explained why Johnson, 29, was seen approaching Aguilar during the team’s respective warmups prior to the game. The two briefly talked, tapped each other on the back, and went back to doing their pre-game shooting.
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Marcial also reminded Johnson to just have fun and play his game.
“Pina-alala ko sa kanya nung first time naming nag-usap to just keep his cool during the game. Sabi ko, he’s a great import and laruin niya lang 'yung tamang laro niya,” the league official recalled about what he told the Rain or Shine import.
Johnson met Marcial personally for the first time following his PBA debut when he got involved in a punching incident with TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin, an incident that earned him a one-game suspension and P50,000 fine.
The 6-foot-9 import played his final game in the league on Sunday as Rain or Shine fell to Barangay Ginebra, 118-107, and fell short of making the finals.
Johnson finished with 27 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists as the Elasto Painters lost the best-of-seven semis, 4-2.
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