The sweetest for Agustin

If destiny brought Red Bull to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup title, Renato (Ato) Agustin was also destined to score the final points in the Thunder’s 75-69 win over San Miguel Beer in the series-clinching Game 6 at the Big Dome last Friday.

Agustin closed out the scoring with two free throws. As Red Bull’s senior statesman, the Atom Bomb had the most Finals experience. He’d played in nine previous Finals – ironically, all for San Miguel – and was part of six title teams.

But it’s been a while since Agustin saw action in the Finals. His last appearance was when he suited up for the San Miguel squad that lost to Alaska in the Last Dance of the 1995 Governors Cup. And his last PBA championship came when San Miguel won the All-Filipino Cup in 1994.

It’s been a storybook career for Agustin who turned pro as a 25-year-old, unheralded second round draft pick in 1989. He went on to bag Most Improved Player honors in 1991 and the Most Valuable Player award the next year. Twice in his PBA career, Agustin averaged over 20 points in a season.

After seven years at San Miguel, Agustin moved to the RFM franchise then was traded to Mobiline before joining the Pampanga Dragons in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) in 1998. Agustin led the Dragons to the MBA’s first title but jumped back to the PBA after a year.

Agustin played for Sta. Lucia Realty in 1999 then kabalen Yeng Guiao picked him in the expansion draft for Red Bull last year.

Critics thought Agustin had reached an ebb in his pro career. But he still managed to average 11.7 points – his highest in the PBA since 1996 – and 32 minutes for the Thunder last season. Agustin was Guiao’s stabilizing force on and off the court.

In the All-Filipino Cup this year, Agustin’s numbers took a tumble. He hit at a 6.9 clip and logged only 22 minutes an outing. His three-point shooting clip fell from a lowly 15.6 percent last year to 13.3.

Experts began to write off Agustin – until he regained his old form in the Commissioner’s Cup, thanks to Guiao’s confidence. Agustin averaged 10.7 points in the eliminations and hit in twin digits in his first five games, signaling a remarkable comeback.

In the Finals, Agustin started in the last three games and clearly made a difference. In the pivotal Game 5, he scored 13 points, 10 in the first period as a starter, in 20 minutes as Red Bull eked out a 79-77 squeaker. Agustin took over the point guard chores and brought instant stability in the backcourt.

For the record, Agustin averaged 7.6 points and 23 minutes in the Commissioner’s Cup. What stood out in his stats was the Atom Bomb’s marksmanship. He hit 53.6 percent from three-point distance and 90.3 percent from the line.

Agustin turned 38 a few weeks ago – he‘s the league’s second oldest player as Mobiline’s Josel Angeles is 13 weeks older. But age doesn’t seem to bother Agustin. In fact, it’s his assets.

With five teammates who are 24 years old or younger, Agustin is almost a father figure at Red Bull. As the cliché goes, he’s done that and been there. He’s looked up to for his experience and his exploits of the past as one of the PBA’s 25 greatest players ever.

Agustin’s far from finished as a player. If destiny continues to call, he’ll be playing on more Red Bull title squads. But last Friday’s clincher was definitely the sweetest ever for the Atom Bomb.