Good but not great

So Japeth Aguilar is back in Philippine shores after all the unnecessary and unwarranted off-court drama. In three games so far with the Global Port Batang Pier, the 6"9 athlete is averaging an eye-popping 15 points and 9 rebounds a game to go with 2 blocks in 36 minutes played.

This, despite playing in an import-laden conference featuring some of the world's biggest (literally) athletes who share the same position let alone having a dominant one sharing frontline duties in Justin Williams (who is clearly the barometer for all bruiser-type imports today).

After such a sterling performance, and a Gilas Pilipinas 17-man pool spot, you could very well ask the question "where the haters at?"

Still here folks, still here.


We've always expected Aguilar to put up numbers in the PBA given his athleticism and height. Add his   solid jump shot and exceptional handles (for a guy his size) and you have everything you'd need to at least make a decent career in the pros (take a look at Mick Pennisi, the dude has endless flaws in his game but has been in the league for a decade now shooting threes and taking hits-- if you'd put him in the NBA, he'd be like a Nick Anderson or Steve Novak; you don't want them playing minutes, but they have their roles on the floor). If you take out the imports, Aguilar would be a safe bet to drop 22 to 25 points and average 12 rebounds a game en route to multiple individual accolades.

People can keep him off the boards, and can keep him from scoring, but who'd outjump him? Really?

That being said, you'd probably wonder why we would agree to being called (for now) a "Japeth hater" after all the dick-riding we did in the last paragraph. Well, for one, he went public on wanting out of his former team so he could "get his."

To his credit, he is proving himself worthy of the minutes and trust.

But then you have to remember that this is the same game who would just as easily walk out on his team in hopes of "greener pastures." That every, if not all, PBA player asking for a bigger pay day (read: on the last year of his contract) almost, always puts up crazy statlines before fading away back into medicority.

One year. That's how long Aguilar signed for with Global Port. Three conferences that runs until next season's Philippine Cup-- after that, who knows what he'd do. He might take another crack at the NBA or some foreign league after "dominating" the PBA. He could pretty much just give Mikee Romero et. al. a big FU and sign with another team. Who knows what's going on with this guy and his handlers.

We could only hope that Aguilar continues his stellar play and shies away from all the drama. His defense has improved to the point that he doesn't bite as easily on pump fakes (jury's still out until he goes up against fat nemesis Beau Belga) but there's a bit of concern there when he parks near the three point line waiting for gimmes. This works with an intimidating import like Williams right now, but Aguilar will have to learn the ropes and play the post at some point if he wants to be the best big man in the Philippines.