Japeth most likely out vs Lebanon, Jordan

MANILA, Philippines — Injured big man Japeth Aguilar said it’s unlikely he could get back to playing shape for Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the sixth window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers later this month.

Aguilar, who has missed two games for Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Governors’ Cup since sustaining an MCL sprain last Wednesday against NLEX, estimated he would need three weeks to recover.

As such, his participation in Gilas’ showdown with Lebanon and Jordan on Feb. 24 and 27, respectively, at the Philippine Arena is highly doubtful.

“Yeah, I think so,” Aguilar, who wears a soft cast on his right knee, told reporters.

Aguilar said they’re not rushing things even if it means missing the opportunity to team up with Ginebra brother Justin Brownlee in his awaited debut as Gilas naturalized player.

“I just got to be patient lang. Siguro hindi pa will ni Lord. We’ll see,” he said.

Ginebra coach and Gilas assistant Tim Cone himself isn’t really counting on Aguilar to make it to the window.

“I think it’s less than 50 percent that he’ll play in the window,” said Cone.

“But sometime after the window, we can get him back (for Ginebra). We’re hoping, we’ll see. We don’t want to mess with Japeth. His knee, his legs are his calling card but he’s such a tremendous athlete that he needs all his athleticism before he can get back.”

Gilas coach Chot Reyes said with Aguilar potentially out, other Gilas mainstays will have to pick up the slack.

“That’s a huge blow for us not only in size but also the leadership. Japeth brings a very huge leadership component to us, which means others will have to step forward to play that,” said Reyes, who has a depleted frontline with Kai Sotto yet to commit to the window.