(Originally posted in NBA.com Philippines)
MANILA, Philippines – Japeth Aguilar’s American dream has to wait.
After making it to the 12-man preseason roster of the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA Development League, Aguilar has been dropped from the team’s 10-man roster for the 2012-13 season, according to a league source.
The source, who requested anonymity because no official announcement has been made yet, said the 6-foot-9 Filipino prospect can still be signed by any team in the NBA D-League, whose 2012-13 season will begin at the end of the month.
“But don’t give up hope yet! He can still sign with any other NBA D-League team (he goes on waivers on Nov. 23 [Nov. 24 in Manila]),” the source told NBA.com Philippines in an email.
On its official website, the NBA D-League has posted a list of players who have been waived by their teams.
Screenshot from the NBA D-League's official website
Shortly after receiving the news, NBA.com Philippines and Philstar.com spoke to Aguilar, who said he still has no idea whether he indeed got waived.
“I don’t know yet,” Aguilar told NBA.com Philippines and Philstar.com.
Aguilar, who was picked up by the Warriors – an affiliate of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA – in the seventh round as the 109th overall pick, saw limited action in the team’s two preseason wins against the Tulsa 66ers and the Texas Legends.
He made a jumper and blocked a couple of shots against the 66ers while he missed his lone field goal attempt against the Legends but grabbed three boards and issued one assist without committing any turnover in just 11 minutes of play.
He rode the bench early in the fourth quarter and never returned after committing his third foul.
The Warriors went on to win in triple overtime, 129-126, behind Dominique Jones’ 26 points and Los Angeles Clipper Blake Griffin’s brother Taylor, who added 20 points.
Aguilar, who is listed as 6-10 center, was the tallest player in the Warriors’ preseason roster next to the 7-foot starting center Chris Daniels. Griffin started at the four spot during the preseason.
Aguilar was the only Santa Cruz Warrior in the list of players who were cut on Nov. 21. Also included in that list is Tulsa’s James Justice, the 5-10 guard who bannered the US Selection to a runner-up finish in the Jones Cup won by the Smart Gilas Pilipinas men’s national team last July.