Japeth Aguillar a class act amid spat between dad, Alvin Patrimonio

MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar was a class act Sunday night.

The athletic Ginebra center-forward put up a monstrous performance on the floor then showed a good gesture of humility off the court, approaching and offering apologies to Star team manager Alvin Patrimonio with whom his father Peter had a spat in the highly emotional Ginebra-Star tussle.

Patrimonio and the elder Aguilar, contemporaries in their PABL and PBA days, engaged in a face-to-face confrontation shortly after the buzzer, an incident that could have gotten out of hand if not for the timely intervention of the proverbial cooler heads.

“Iniintay ko lang na maghamon siya (I was waiting for him to ask for a fight),” said Patrimonio, who confronted Aguilar for his belligerent gestures from his seat in one heated moment early in the fourth quarter of the match won by Ginebra, 116-103, to claim an outright playoff berth.

“He was like ordering us to sit down. But who is he? We are both former players and he’s no respect. He’s like a bully,” said Patrimonio.

Patrimonio and Star governor Rene Pardo rose from theirs seats and protested a no-call from the referees when Jervy Cruz hit Star import Joel Wright.

“I’m the team manager and I’m trying to protect our import. I was just asking the refs of some explanations, and there he (Aguilar) was with his insulting gestures,” said Patrimonio.

Aguilar was then seated on the press row and was saying: “He’s an experienced player. How many times he’d won an MVP award? He should know that a player would do anything to distract his opponent. Mainis talo.”

At the hallway leading to the dugouts, Patrimonio had a parting shot towards Aguilar: “Huwag kang parang siga.”

Patrimonio then proceeded to the PBA office for some official matters. It was there where he was sought out by the young Aguilar.

And it’s all well that ends well.

Aguilar delivered 21 points as the Gin Kings fashioned out a dramatic come-from-behind win over the Hotshots to book a berth in the eight-team playoff play.

The 2009 top draft pick is enjoying a breakout conference, averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 assists.

With a career average of only 10.9 points, Aguilar now puts in a career-best norm of 14.5 this season.