Japeth Aguilar to arrive in Manila on Thursday
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/24/2009 3:30 PM
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MANILA -- The 6’10” Filipino reinforcement of Powerade-Team Pilipinas is due to arrive in Manila to formally join the Nationals’ preparations for the Jones Cup and FIBA-Asia World Championship qualifier.
Japeth Aguilar, who played for the Ateneo Blue Eagles before hooking up with Western Kentucky in the US NCAA touranment, will be arriving via Korean Air from Seoul at around 11 p.m. Thursday, according to PBA.ph.
“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 RP Team coach Yeng Guiao.
“Also, the urgent need for a naturalized player will be minimized somewhat with his presence,” he added.
Guiao believes the former Ateneo standout could 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 earlier said the Jones Cup will be the “real test” for the Nationals due to the presence of taller teams from Iran, Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Lebanon and Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, he called the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship as the “real thing” as it could be their key to make it to the 16th World Basketball Championship set in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2010.
Injuries and illness have plagued the National’s preparation prior and during the 8th SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan,
Indonesia where they still dominated the competition 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.
They were joined in the injury list by playmaker Ryan Reyes, who pulled his hamstring in the SEABA match against Malaysia.
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