Japeth wonders: Would I be No. 1?

Written by Joel Orellana / Reporter
Thursday, 23 July 2009 20:47

TAIPEI—Japeth Aguilar has made himself available for the Rookie Draft. And now, he wonders if he indeed would turn out to be the No. 1 pick.

“Ako ba talaga ang first pick?” the six-foot-eight, 210-lb Aguilar asked on Wednesday night after announcing he is joining the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Rookie Draft on August 2 at Market! Market! in Taguig.

Even before Aguilar suited up for the national squad, Burger King had declared it will use its first pick to acquire the former Ateneo center and Western Kentucky University reserve.

And with his impressive numbers in the ongoing Jones Cup basketball tournament here, it is unlikely the Whopper would tab somebody else.

Aguilar, the youngest in the Powerade-Team Pilipinas at 22, is the squad’s second-leading scorer with 8.4 points per game after Willie Miller’s 9.0, but is No. 1 in rebounding (7.2) and blocks (1.6).

“Excited ako kasi next level ito sa basketball career ko,” said Aguilar, son of former pro Peter Aguilar, who played with five teams in the PBA.

National team and Burger King coach Yeng Guiao had also earlier dubbed Aguilar as the next most important big man in the PBA.

Aguilar’s announcement that he wants to be drafted in the PBA ended speculations he would remain an amateur and play for the national team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Aguilar and his handlers beat the July 24 deadline. He is bound to be the first homegrown to be picked No. 1 since Yancy de Ocampo in 2002.

Aguilar left his application form at the PBA Office before the national team flew here, but only made his application official on Wednesday night.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios, who arrived here on Thursday, said he is happy to have Aguilar in the draft.

“The PBA family welcomes Japeth Aguilar to the premier league of the country,” said Barrios.

“I am confident he will be an asset not only to his team but also to the PBA while he showcases his basketball talent and skills. I wish him all the best as I join all PBA fans in eagerly waiting for his debut in the games this coming October.”

Half-Filipinos or those born and raised overseas emerged as the top picks in the annual draft for the past six years. They were Mike Cortez (2003), Rich Alvarez (2004), Anthony Washington (2005), Kelly Williams (2006), Joe Devance (2007) and Gabe Norwood (2008).

A native of Sasmuan, Pampanga, Aguilar welcomed the new challenges of playing against the league’s resident stars and be under the meticulous coaching of Guiao.

“Mas gusto ko nga po ’yung sinasabi ang mga mali ko sa game para mas matuto pa ako,” said Aguilar, who also attended the National Basketball Association Developmental League camp in early June.

“Wala pa akong nakitang maglaro ng big man na kasing athletic ni Japeth and I think he will be the league’s next most important big man,” said Guiao. “There’s so much room for improvement for him because his talent is not yet fully developed kasi ilang games lang nilaro niya sa Western Kentucky.”

Although Talk ’N Text officials declared they want Aguilar, Guiao said Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez assured the expected top pick would be in a Whopper uniform.