Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-10 son of former Northern Consolidated center Peter Aguilar, is flying in tomorrow from Chicago, bringing with him a glowing reputation that preceded by months his arrival to be an integral part of Yeng Guiao’s Powerade Team Pilipinas.
No red carpet will be rolled out for Aguilar, who played for Ateneo before hooking up with Western Kentucky in the US NCAA, when he checks in via Korean Air from Seoul at around 11 p.m.
But the door will swing open when he steps into The New Arena in San Juan Monday evening to finally join Asi Taulava and Co. in practice for two important international tournaments – the W. Jones Cup in Taipei from July 18-28 and the FIBA Asia World Championship qualifier in Tianjin, China from Aug. 6-16.
“He can add to the solution of a perennial problem for the RP team – the lack of size and quickness in the 4 and 5 positions,” said Guiao, the national coach.
“Also, the urgent need for a naturalized player will be minimized somewhat with his presence.”
Barring any injury, Guiao believes Aguilar can be the next best homegrown big man in the country for years to come.
“Basically because of his physical attributes, he can dominate,” Guiao said. “We’re just hoping he can stay healthy and contribute to the cause of the national team.”
Guiao has labeled the Jones Cup the “real test” due to the presence of countries like Iran, Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Lebanon and Kazakhstan in the field, and he has called the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship the “real thing” for its overall worth.
The top three finishers in Tianjin will qualify to the 16th World Basketball Championship in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2010.
In last week’s FIBA draw at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tianjin, Powerade-RP was bracketed in Group A with long-time Asian Games rivals South Korea and Japan, plus Sri Lanka, reviving hopes for a return to the global stage after more than two decades.
Injuries and illness have saddled the RP team’s preparation prior and during the 8th SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia where the Nationals swept the opposition by an average of 38 points.
Forward Kelly Williams was diagnosed with a blood disorder, point guard Jayjay Helterbrand went down with a pulled hamstring and center Sonny Thoss banged up his knee.
Williams stayed behind while Helterbrand and Thoss joined the Medan trip although neither saw action in the games where they later got bench company when playmaker Ryan Reyes pulled his hamstring in the opening match against Malaysia.
Aguilar’s arrival should be welcome relief for Guiao, especially with Williams probably out of it all as he recovers and Reyes still a question mark.
PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios said the league will shoulder Aguilar’s expenses while an aunt will be with him when he scouts for a housing unit in the Makati area.
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