Aguilar still welcome to join RP 5, says SBP

source: gmanews.tv

Despite the fact that Japeth Aguilar would already suit up for Burger King in the Philippine Basketball Association, the youthful center is still welcome to join the Smart Gilas Pilipinas cage team in its international quest.

“The door is always open to anybody who likes to help the team," Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala said.

The Gilas team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman is tasked to try to win the 2011 FIBA Asia men’s championship and earn the lone slot allotted for Asia in the 2012 London Olympics.

Its players, all from the amateur ranks, are committed to stay with the team for three years in the lead-up to the Olympic quest.

But since Aguilar decided to turn pro, the SBP would have to make special arrangements with the PBA and Burger King to get the services of the 6-10 slotman.

“We are going to discuss this with Japeth, his team and the PBA," Eala said. “We’re optimistic that we will get him for the RP team."

The son of former Northern Consolidated center Peter Aguilar is not new to playing for flag, having been part of the PBA-backed Powerade Team Pilipinas team that finished eighth in the last FIBA-Asia Championships in Tianjin, China.

Eala believed Aguilar would strengthen the inside game of the Smart Gilas team which has Jason Ballesteros and Greg Slaughter as frontliners.

Other members of the squad are JV Casio, Chris Tiu, Mac Baracael, Andy Mark Barroca, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, Dylan Ababou, Magi Sison, Chester Taylor and 6-11 naturalized player CJ Giles.

Eala said as part of the team’s preparations for the next 2011 FIBA Asia meet, which the Philippines is also bidding to host, Gilas would play as guest team in the PBA Philippine Cup that would open shop on October 11.

All the games of the squad would count in the team standings so that all the regular PBA teams would play the Gilas cagers seriously, according to Eala.

“We’re thankful for this opportunity. This is a great chance for us to show how Smart Gilas is improving while we play the PBA teams and give the players the much-needed exposure," he said.