Before being known as "Mr. Never Heard," Ginebra Gin King Raymond Aguilar was called "Magnum 23" as a volunteer firefighter with the Marikina brigade.
Ginebra fan favorite Raymond Aguilar recently found himself embroiled in an issue involving Converge rising star Juan Gomez de Liaño.
The Gin Kings and the then twice-to-beat FiberXers figured in a quarterfinal duel late last month.
Ginebra won, 105-85, the first time, then got the job done via an epic 99-98 victory in overtime.
After the Gin Kings' semifinal-clinching win, Aguilar was seen in a video appearing to imitate Gomez de Liaño's gesture following a crucial four in the extra period.
When a fan mentioned Aguilar's act on JGDL's social media, the Converge super rookie replied, "Never heard of him."
This led to a moniker which Aguilar seemed to have embraced.
But before he was dubbed as “Mr. Never Heard,” he was known as "Magnum 23."
Aguilar shared that this was his call sign as a volunteer firefighter in Marikina.
"Mga six years na akong fire volunteer ng Marikina," Aguilar told One Sports in an interview before the season unfolded.
“I’m one of the guys na nag pe-penetrate sa loob. May mga suot kaming breathing apparatus."
Asked why he ventured into this field, Aguilar said it was his way to help others.
“Siguro, pumasok na lang din ang pagiging matulungin natin sa mga tao,” he said.
“Iba naman ang ginawa ko para makatulong tayo.”
The Ginebra sub admitted it was a risky gig, but it’s one he must do to be of service to his community.
“Medyo risky nga lang sa career natin, so nag-iingat naman tayo. Kumpleto naman ang training natin, seminars and everything. So, kayang-kaya,” he said.
[RELATED STORY: After Ginebra’s PBA semis exit, Tim Cone lauds SMB: ’Obviously the better team’]
(With reports from Maureen Muarip/One Sports Digital)
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.