Japeth ipapalit kay Malonzo

MANILA, Philippines — Muling huhugutin ng Gilas Pilipinas si Japeth Aguilar na magsisilbing kapalit muna ni Jamie Malonzo na sumailalim sa operasyon at mangangailangan ng anim hanggang walong linggong pahinga.

Mismong si Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone ang pumili kay Aguilar para makasama sa FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament na idaraos sa Hulyo.

Napili si Aguilar dahil hindi na ito bago sa sistema ng Gilas Pilipinas.

Bahagi ito ng tropa na sumalang sa FIBA World Cup noong nakaraang taon.

Nakasama rin si Aguilar sa first window ng FIBA event noong Pebrero kaya’t magiging madali na ito para sa buong Gilas Pilipinas.

“We are looking for Japeth again to try to come and be a part of the 12. He was the team captain in first FIBA window last February, and expect him to be the team captain in the second one,” ani Cone.

Hinihintay na lamang ni Cone ang magiging pinal na sagot ni Aguilar.

“We haven’t gotten full agreement with him yet. That’s still up in the air,” ani Cone.

Ayon kay Cone, ka­bisado na ni Aguilar ang sistema ng Gilas Pilipinas kaya’t hindi na magiging mahirap ang adjustment at chemistry.

“There are so many things about Japeth. No. 1, everybody like’s Japeth.  He’s an easy guy to get along with. He’s so sacrificial. He’ll step in the background and doesn’t have to be at the forefront all the time, which makes him a great teammate,” ani Cone.