Pulling for Japeth to make it but...

Hilaw pa din ba si Japeth?

Like any proud Filipino basketball fan, news of a local wanting to make it to the biggest stage of them all-- the National Basketball Association (NBA), will always be met with nothing but cheer and support. So now that news of 6”10 athlete Japeth Aguilar is trying his darndest to make a summer league roster (via the San Antonio Spurs), it is only fitting that we give him all the love that we can.

Before Aguilar, only two Filipino players in recent memory were really mentioned in the same stratosphere as the NBA. There’s the legendary and iconic Johnny Abarrientos, an MVP point guard who was well ahead of his time, followed by reigning Philippine Basketball Association MVP Mark Caguioa who was rumored as being scouted at one point during his younger years with Ginebra. Of the two, it was the same old story—they were great players, elite probably, but were just too short.


Fast forward to the present and we have Aguilar at a speedy, agile and nimble 6”10. The dude has insane hops and runs the floor like a gazelle. He is a showman, plays for the crowd with his electrifying fastbreak/ open court dunks and spike-shot blocks. He makes free throws, and is money from 17 feet.

What Aguilar doesn’t have, or hasn’t learned to do, is play a certain position.

Is he a center?

No. He’s tall, but he’s a dud in the low post and even worse as a one-on-one defender. He gets away with it because he’s taller than the opposition, but we all saw how poorly he did in the FIBA tournament guarding guys his height. He’s almost like the New York Knicks’ era Marcus Camby (his first run with Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston, not today of course).

Is he a power forward?

What power?

Is he a small forward?

Ah. Yes. The wing position. The one spot which Aguilar seemingly wants to play but is often banished from. Traditionally, you want your wing guys to be ultra-athletes who can fill in whatever gaps on the floor both on offense and defense. That, or they command the ball and play point-forward (Scottie Pippen/ LeBron James) OR freelance and look for openings for themselves.

In the PBA, this is one position you just can’t let Aguilar freely play. Sayang ang height e. For all the Fil-foreign invasion and what not, we’re still a country dominated mostly by 6”4-5 centers.

But in the NBA? For a team that’s looking to excite and put asses on seats? Why the heck not? Most NBA small forwards are around Aguilar’s build, so it could work in the international level.

The problems with Aguilar however are big and not something you can correct overnight.

He’s only 25 but has been having some knee and foot problems. He’s not as quick on his feet laterally, which is big in the NBA because they have stronger defenders who will force guys to go left or right but never forward. He bites on every single shot fake thrown at him by guys whose eyes are only up to his chest. He’s not strong enough to back anyone down. He doesn’t have a go-to-move in the post.

So you have his injuries and his limited skillset. There’s also him being a guy who appears to be not being a fan of any of his previous coaches. Almost like he over-estimates his own abilities. Honestly, we want him on Talk ‘n’ Text this season so he can grow under Coach Norman Black who made decent players out of Doug Kramer (who was awful his first year with Ateneo), Rabeh Al Hussaini (who is now a borderline star if only he could get over his temper tantrums) and even Claiford Arao (wherever he is right now).

So Aguilar doesn’t want to be a center? Fine. There’s no one better to learn from than Black who is a tall, former NBA player who can teach Aguilar to play as an NBA-level wing. From one great small forward to a guy who appears to be headed that way. How could you ever go wrong with that set-up?

We could go on and on and you might even say that we’re hating on the guy but like we’ve said before and even relayed to one of our idols Gabe Norwood—we critique because we care. Because we recognize potential and the ability to be great. Aguilar has that. He just doesn’t get it.

If he makes it to the NBA then yes, we’ll sing him praises and congratulate him. Will we start calling him a good player? Perhaps. A great one? The future of Philippine basketball? Not sold on that one yet.

Will Aguilar be the first ever Filipino NBA player? We hope so.

Is he NBA ready? Yes. If they could make room for Kwame Brown, then why not a 25-year old pogostick?

Is he a good, fundamentally sound basketball player? No (not yet).