Is Japeth for real?

After playing sparingly at the recent FIBA-Asia Championships in Wuhan, Japeth Aguilar unleashed his repressed energy and came away with a scintillating performance in powering Talk ‘N’ Text to a 98-80 win over hapless Meralco in the PBA at the Ynares Center in Antipolo last Friday.

Aguilar, 24, isn’t eligible for Rookie of the Year honors as he saw action for Burger Game in a game in 2009-10 but if you’re not technical about it, the 6-9 frontliner could pass for a freshman. At least, he felt like a rookie wearing his brand-new Tropang Texters jersey and confessed to a bout of jitters before taking to the court.

Coach Chot Reyes started Aguilar at center, a position he’s neither used to playing or physically equipped to play. You can’t blame Reyes. Nobody’s taller than Aguilar in the Talk ‘N’ Text lineup. Ali Peek and Gilbert Lao play the pivot but they’re three to five inches shorter. Reyes, however, let Aguilar use his athleticism to free lance in the middle. Aguilar obviously isn’t a back-to-the-basket type of player. He prefers attacking the rim from the outside and is comfortable putting the ball on the floor.

Meralco’s Asi Taulava quickly powered his way to easy baskets with Aguilar unable to outmuscle the beefy Bolt in the early going. Then, things changed. Taulava got tired chasing Aguilar who was determined to put on a show. Reyes later experimented with Peek playing center and Aguilar power forward then Lao playing center and Aguilar power forward. Aguilar didn’t seem to care. He played No. 5 like No. 4 – at least offensively. Taulava, Jason Ballesteros and Gabby Espinas took turns trying to contain Aguilar. No dice. Aguilar was just too frisky to muzzle. In one breakaway, Aguilar got off to a running start and slammed it in despite Ballesteros getting in the way. That drove home his message loud and clear – I’m for real.

After the rout, Aguilar admitted he was uncomfortable playing center. At Gilas, Marcus Douthit was immovable at the slot and with Taulava added to the lineup, there was no way anyone else could play No. 5. Even at Western Kentucky, Aguilar didn’t play center. The unfamiliarity wore off as the game progressed. Aguilar revealed his awesome upside in the game and Reyes didn’t even run alley-oops. He shot jumpers, baby hooks and pull-ups. What made him look even better was his ability to move without the ball. He got open for good looks and made the defense pay.

The downside was Aguilar didn’t assert too much authority under the basket. He also didn’t look to pass. Aguilar played like a franchise go-to guy. In the first half, Harvey Carey and Pamboy Raymundo had more rebounds. Aguilar must’ve been told to refocus at the half because in the last two periods, he showed a little more tenacity in rebounding and in defense.

Aguilar finished with 27 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in 32 minutes.  His marksmanship was impressive. He hit 9-of-13 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the line. Aguilar had no assist but that wasn’t a problem. It remains to be seen how Aguilar will react to double-teams or a defender who plays him physical. Meralco’s defense didn’t bother Aguilar – which is why he didn’t care to pass because he probably felt he could score at every opportunity.

Aguilar said the pro game gives him the freedom to do his thing. At Gilas, he wasn’t as creative in coach Rajko Toroman’s structured system which is necessary for an undersized team playing against bigger opponents in the international circuit. 

How Aguilar will adjust to the return of Ranidel de Ocampo and Kelly Williams is subject to speculation. Will he stay at center with Williams at power forward or will they switch? Aguilar, Williams and De Ocampo make a frightening frontline. What makes Aguilar even more potent is he’s got teammates watching his back.

In the coming games, teams will find ways to play Aguilar tough or neutralize his presence. They’ll make him play defense. They’ll body up and play physical. They’ll take away his dribble by stepping into his line of attack.  They’ll shut down his roll or chase his pop after the pick. They’ll double to force a pass and frustrate him. 

Talk ‘N’ Text picked only Raymundo in the draft last August. No wonder. Reyes knew Aguilar will be in harness this season. You couldn’t ask for a more impactful recruit.

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PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial explained yesterday that Alaska was within the rules in trading Mark Borboran to Meralco even if the Aces never bothered to tender an offer sheet 30 days after his contract expired. That’s because under a 2006 rule, a team retains the right of first refusal on a player with an expired contract for a year even if the player is no longer in the 16-man lineup.  Alaska lost its right to tender an offer sheet to Borboran because the 30-day grace period had elapsed but it didn’t lose its right of first refusal. It was, in fact, Alaska’s right of first refusal that the Aces dealt to Meralco in exchange for second round draft picks in 2013 and 2014. 

When Petron tendered an offer to sheet to Borboran who actually signed it, Meralco matched and kept his rights. That’s why Borboran suited up for the Bolts against Talk ‘N’ Text last Friday. If Meralco didn’t match Petron’s offer, Borboran would’ve gone to the Blaze but Alaska would still keep the Bolts’ draft picks because the trade had previously been consummated. Marcial said the 2006 rule will be revisited and likely scrapped if the league is serious in curtailing “warehousing” of players by teams beyond the 16-man limit.

A source criticized the ruling. “The PBA, for this season, passed a rule allowing 16 players in a lineup, 14 active and two reserve/injured,” he said. “This was meant to clarify the rights of teams over unrestricted or restricted free agents. Thus, anyone not within the 16 are free agents and can sign up with any team.  In the case of Borboran, the PBA now claims there is an existing 2006 rule that allows teams to retain rights over players for a year. I believe this rule doesn’t apply per se to Borboran and was superseded by the new 16-man rule. To rule otherwise would create an absurd situation where teams which release players because they have no more slots in their lineup, can still trade and thus create an additional reserve list. This is precisely warehousing. The decision is seriously flawed. The 2006 rule was intended for the reduction of the official lineup from 16 to 14 then. That’s why teams were allowed to retain rights of refusal.”