MANILA, Philippines - Now it can be told. Japeth Aguilar suffered the flu two days into the Tianjin FIBA-Asia championship, a major factor causing him not to play much in the Asian meet.
Coach Yeng Guiao and the team concealed the problem for fear Aguilar – or the entire team – might be quarantined. Guiao instead just made it appear that Aguilar was slightly injured.
Aguilar started for the team in their first game against Sri Lanka and played a total of 25:21, longer than the playing minutes of Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss and Mick Pennisi.
He went 6-of-12 from the field and finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds in that game but got sick the morning after, forcing him to miss their next two games against Japan and Korea.
His status was day-to-day after the RP-Sri Lanka game.
With special care from team therapist Marlon Celis and a three-day rest including the break on Aug. 9, Aguilar was back in action on Aug. 10 against Chinese Taipei but he appeared soft, missing a field-goal attempt and committing one foul and one turnover in four minutes and 57 seconds of playing time.
His playing time doubled in their next game against Iran but, like Taulava, Thoss and Pennisi, he just couldn’t handle 7-foot-3 behemoth Hamed Ehadadi. He was 0-of-2 from the field, barely contributing two assists and one rebound.
He was back in the starting lineup against Kuwait, again playing significant minutes and responding with nine points and four rebounds as they braced for their quarterfinals.
Keeping Aguilar on the bench in their quarterfinals match with Jordan, Guiao later said he’s yet to have that much trust on the young player to be used in that kind of game.
Powerade RP bowed to Jordan, 70-81, thus, missing a shot at the semifinals.
Aguilar was again back in action against Qatar in the next game, playing a little over 17 minutes but couldn’t make his presence felt as the Nationals were beaten, 65-83.
Analyzing things, Aguilar had his chance to show what he could do but he is, as yet, not ready to be a major force in a tourney as big as the Asian meet.
Guiao was convinced, though, that Aguilar would have his time.
The Powerade RP mentor is still puzzled why the player suddenly turned his back on him.
“He even asked me when he will start practicing with Burger King. I told him Monday. He didn’t come and, now, he’s not answering my calls,” said Guiao.
“The sad part was that he changed his mind without even consulting me. He didn’t have a one word of complaint in the close to one month we were together with the (Powerade) team,” added Guiao.
Guiao said the player he gambled on for inclusion in the Powerade-Team Pilipinas and made the top pick overall in the draft “is getting bad advice.”
“It’s a case of wanting too much too soon,” said Guiao.
“Ang expectations nila (Aguilar camp) napakataas na hindi pa naman kaya ng bata. Kaya nga sinabi kung he will be the next dominant big man because he hasn’t earned the full title yet. He’s still a work in progress.”