AIR21 slotman Asi Taulava admitted that playing Barangay Ginebra’s 'Twin Towers' of Greg Slaughter and Japeth Aguilar put him in a 'pick your poison' dilemma inside the court.
After holding his own against Petron sophomore sensation June Mar Fajardo, Taulava found Ginebra's towering pair too much to handle with Slaughter proving to be an unmovable force inside and Aguilar chasing down every shot thanks to his leaping ability.
They Said It!
“I mean, man, it was like looking at Japeth and Greg coming down the lane, 'Oh my goodness, who's the guy I’m gonna take?" - Air21 center Asi Taulava
Slaughter finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, while the 6-9 Aguilar had 22 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high eight blocks aside from providing the game's highlight-reel dunks in leading the Gin Kings past the Express, 78-69 on Wednesday.
“You can’t coach height. I mean, man, it was like looking at Japeth and Greg coming down the lane, 'Oh my goodness, who's the guy I’m gonna take?'” said Taulava, who still managed to finish with eight points, 13 rebounds and three assists for the 1-7 Air21 Express.
Taulava said Aguilar’s athleticism and Slaughter size and heft give the Gin Kings a formidable tandem in the frontline that is almost impossible to stop.
“Japeth has improved tremendously and so did Greg,” noted the 40-year-old Taulava. “The way they passed the ball to each other, both keep the ball high. It’s kind of hard to guard right now.”
The one-time PBA MVP said without a solid power forward to help him defend the basket, Aguilar could easily do his high-wire act in the game because he also had to take on Slaughter in the paint.
Taulava isn't exactly looking forward to his next meeting with the Twin Towers, but he vowed to work ever harder to prepare them - while hoping that he would get a little help next time.
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