Japeth samples RP, Burger King, brand of play

Japeth samples RP, Burger King, brand of play

In 24 minutes of shot-blocking highlight against the evangelical Soldiers for Christ Thursday night, Japeth Aguilar showed Powerade Team Pilipinas what he is all about.

And in half that time, three RP team wannabes – Wynne Arboleda, Mark Yee and Beau Belga – showed the 6-foot-9 Aguilar what their PBA ballclub, the Burger King Whopper, is made of.

National coach Yeng Guiao, also the Whopper mentor, wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Talk about divine intervention or hitting two birds with one exhibition game.

Aguilar scored 5 of his 8 points in the make-or-break fourth quarter, grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots overall as the reinforced Nationals narrowly beat the visiting American missionaries, 100-94, at The Arena in San Juan.

With half of the regular RP team roster either preoccupied with the ongoing Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup Finals, ailing, injured or out of town, only five players – James Yap, Kerby Raymundo, Ranidel de Ocampo, Willie Miller and Arwind Santos – showed up for Aguilar’s debut night.

The quintet, especially Arwind Santos, who scored 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and James Yap (18), didn’t let their new teammate down, hauling the team back from 13 points down in the second quarter and making sure Aguilar’s first public appearance was a memorable one.

But Aguilar has other people to thank for.

Yee and Arboleda combined for 18 points, with the rookie Yee draining 3 of 4 triples (2 in the fourth quarter) and the veteran Arboleda scoring five in the last 10 minutes to go with five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Yee's triple early in the last quarter broke a 74-all count, and Powerade-RP never relinquished the lead the rest of the way.

Just for comparison: Santos took six 3-point shots and missed five; Yap hoisted 10 and clanged seven. Between them, they accounted for 12 of the Nationals’ 18 missed triples.

And Belga? In 13 minutes, the burly center-forward went 2 for 2 from the field, grabbed five rebounds and blocked two shots.

Little wonder, Guiao had to smile when it was pointed out after the game that his Burger King players saved the day for the Nationals.

“Di naman. This exhibition game was arranged from the point of view of Japeth,” said Guiao, who could have the first crack at the son of former Northern Consolidated center Peter Aguilar in next month’s PBA Rookie Draft.

“It was the first time for him in a game situation so medyo feeling it out pa siya. We have many things in store for Japeth in the coming days.”

Asked later whether he is now inclined to apply for drafting, Aguilar, who has remained noncommittal on his future plans, told a sportswriter: “Why not?”

He maintained, however, that no final decision would be made before the end of this month.

Led by Marcus Morgan, who finished with 21 points, and Wayne Oliver, who drained five 3-point shots, Soldiers for Christ led through most of the first half and the early part of the third before Santos struck for 13 points to help tie the game, 69-all, going to the final 10 minutes.

With their mother ballclubs locked in a best-of-seven series in the Fiesta up Finals, Mick Pennisi (San Miguel Beer) and Jayjay Helterbrand and Cyrus Baguio (Barangay Ginebra) sat out the game along with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood who was ailing.

On hand to watch the game, three weeks before Powerade-RP leaves for the Jones Cup tournament in Taipei , were PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios, PBA vice chairman Lito Alvarez, Samahang Basketbol nng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas, SBP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, Philippine Olympic Committee spokesman Joey Romasanta, and Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou.

Scores:

POWERADE-RP 100 – Santos 22, Yap 18, Raymundo 13, Arboleda 9, Yee 9, De Ocampo 9, Miller 8, Aguilar 8, Belga 4.

SOLDIERS FOR CHRIST 94 – Morgan 21, Oliver 20, Alexander 17, Mcfadden 13, Amenra 11, Crawford 5, Green 4, Dooley 3, Johnson 0.

Quarters: 13-22; 39-49; 69-69; 100-94