JAPETH AGUILAR FEATURE

JAPETH AGUILAR FEATURE
JUNE 27,2009
Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 son of former Northern Consolidated center Peter Aguilar, arrived from Chicago without fanfare yesterday, speaking briefly with national coach Yeng Guiao on the phone and making an appearance during the Motolite-PBA Fiesta Cup semifinals before quietly leaving at halftime of Game 5 of the Ginebra-Rain or Shine series.

The 22-year-old former Ateneo sophomore was welcomed as he walked into the playing court by ex-Blue Eagle teammate JC Intal, now with the Barangay Ginebra Kings, early in the Burger King-San Miguel Beer game.

Wearing a plain white t-shirt that seems to hang loosely on his 210-pound frame, Aguilar was later presented by PBA commissioner Renauld ‘Sonny’ Barrios with a blue Powerade Team Pilipinas jacket inside the press room.

He expressed excitement at the prospect of joining RP team practice starting tomorrow at The New Arena in San Juan.

“It’s a team built from major talent in the league and I’m excited to join them,” he told sportswriters during an impromptu press conference.

Guaranteed to be the No. 1 pick in the August PBA Rookie Draft if he decides to turn pro, Aguilar said he remains torn between pursuing his dreams of making it to the NBA, joining the PBA or suiting up for the Smart-Gilas RP team.

“I’m still weighing my options,” Aguilar said. “But my first priority for now is to help coach Yeng’s national team.”

The stress fractured on his right foot that hampered his performance in the US NCAA last year is fully healed, said Aguilar, who nonetheless will be enrolled in a state-of-the-art gym to keep him in shape.

He was originally scheduled to join much earlier the RP team training for the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin China in August.

But Guiao gave him a free pass on learning that Aguilar, a fellow Pampango from Sasmuan, has been invited to the National Basketball Development League camp in Los Angeles which kept him from being a part of the squad that swept the 8th SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia three weeks ago.

“Maganda naman po ang naging performance ko doon,” he said. “Nabanggit nga raw po ako sa ESPN as the most promising for scouts.”

Aguilar, who is engaged to an American girl from Washington, completed his Interdisciplinary Studies at Western Kentucky, and he plans to spend much of his time away from RP team practice catching up with his younger sister Micah, a management graduate at Assumption, and with relatives from both sides of his parents.

His father, Peter, who held the fort for Ron Jacobs’ national squad in the ‘80s, played for five teams in the PBA – Añejo Rum, Alaska, Seven-Up, Sta. Lucia Realty and Shell – from 1989 to 1993, a path the young Aguilar could eventually follow.

Asked what his favorite NBA team is, Japeth replied: “Lakers,” making it natural for him to idolize LA superstar Kobe Bryant.

And what about his favorite PBA player? Does he have any?

“Meron…papa ko,” the young Aguilar said.

A chip off the old block, Japeth Aguilar is, even this early.

JAPETH FLIES IN TOMORROW

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.