Aguilar due, joins Powerade RP crew

MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar, the 6-foot-10 former Ateneo slotman who played for Western Kentucky in the US NCAA, arrives tomorrow from Chicago to bolster the Powerade Team Pilipinas priming up for the Jones Cup and the FIBA Asia Championship.

Aguilar, set to hit town at 11 p.m. via Korean Air from Seoul, plunges into training on Monday night as he joins the team’s practice at The New Arena in San Juan.

The Powerade Team Pilipinas is competing in the W. Jones Cup in Taipei from July 18-28 and the FIBA Asia World Championship qualifier in Tianjin, China from Aug. 6-16.

“He can provide solution of a perennial problem for the RP team – the lack of size and quickness in the 4 and 5 positions,” said RP team coach Yeng Guiao of the son of former Northern Consolidated center Peter Aguilar.

“Also, the urgent need for a naturalized player will be minimized somewhat with his presence,” Guiao said.

Barring any injury, Guiao believes Aguilar can be the next best homegrown big man in the country for years to come.

“Basically because of his physical attributes, he can dominate,” Guiao said. “We’re just hoping he can stay healthy and contribute to the cause of the national team.”

Guiao has labeled the Jones Cup the “real test” due to the presence of countries like Iran, Jordan, South Korea, Japan, Lebanon and Kazakhstan in the field, and the 25th FIBA Asia Men’s Championship the “real thing” for its overall worth.

The top three finishers in Tianjin will qualify to the 16th World Basketball Championship in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2010.

In last week’s FIBA draw at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tianjin, Powerade-RP was bracketed in Group A with long-time Asian Games rivals South Korea and Japan, plus Sri Lanka, reviving hopes for a return to the global stage after more than two decades.

Injuries and illness have hampered the RP team’s preparation prior and during the eighth SEABA Men’s Championship in Medan, Indonesia where the Nationals swept the opposition by an average of 38 points.

Forward Kelly Williams was diagnosed with a blood disorder, point guard Jayjay Helterbrand and center Sonny Thoss sustained a pulled hamstring and a knee injury, respectively.

Williams stayed behind while Helterbrand and Thoss joined the Medan trip although neither saw action in the games where Ryan Reyes, the team’s other guard, pulled his hamstring in the opening match against Malaysia.

Aguilar’s arrival should be welcome relief for Guiao with Williams probably out of the campaign and Reyes’ stint still in question.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios said the league will shoulder Aguilar’s expenses while an aunt will be with him when he scouts for a housing unit in the Makati area.