Fil-Am Slaughter outshines Aguilar

SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas recently said that Fil-Am Greg Slaughter’s dramatic improvement is a positive development in that the 6-10 center now provides tough inside presence for the Smart Gilas national basketball team.

In contrast, 6-9 Japeth Aguilar hasn’t lived up to expectations and is still struggling for form. Aguilar recently broke up with his fiancée Jessica Magley, a 6-1 basketball player, and brought along a new Filipina girlfriend to the US during Gilas’ recent tour, much to the team officials’ dismay. In a recent practice game against Talk ‘N’ Text, Aguilar grabbed only two rebounds.

“Japeth has personal issues and his father (Peter) implanted in his mind that he’s not a center so he plays away from the post,” said a Gilas source. “During a game in Las Vegas, his father, who flew in from Chicago where he lives, came down from the stands to berate him because he wasn’t playing well. Coach Rajko (Toroman) had to restrain Peter and tell him to go back to his seat.”

Is it true that Aguilar has an attitude problem?

“I think he’s under a lot of pressure,” continued the source. “Remember, he was the PBA’s first overall draft pick last year and the object of a tug-of-war which was eventually settled when Air21 traded his rights to Talk ‘N’ Text. Japeth never got to play too many games for Western Kentucky so his inexperience is holding him back. He’s adjusting, learning and maturing all at the same time. I’m not sure if he needs a psychiatrist. But I know he’s not in speaking terms with his agent who was once all praises for the kid. His agent used to watch all the Gilas practice games but now, you don’t see him anymore.”

Sneaking in his girlfriend to the US to join him on tour was an apparent breach of trust. The girlfriend was booked in the same Las Vegas hotel as the Gilas players. It wasn’t certain if Aguilar and his girlfriend shared a room.

No doubt, Aguilar has the potential to become a dominant player. He has the size, agility and raw talent to excel in the frontline. But to progress, his head must be in place. If he’s not in the right frame of mind, Aguilar won’t go far in his basketball career.

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The Ateneo senior men’s basketball team left Manila last Saturday to spend three weeks laboring at the Joe Abunassar Impact camp in Las Vegas. Accompanying the players are coach Norman Black and manager Paolo Trillo.

It’s the fifth straight summer that the Eagles are training with Abunassar who also has facilities in Los Angeles, Sarasaota (Florida) and Novi (Michigan). His highly-regarded system is focused on maximizing abilities through comprehensive basketball-specific strength, flexibility, movement, agility and speed training with on-court drills. Among his satisfied customers are Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups, Al Harrington and Sebastian Telfair.

Trillo said the training program is a lot of hard work.

“The trip isn’t a vacation,” he said. “We’ll work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with just a few breaks. The program is intensive. There are three basketball courts where sessions are going on at the same time. The levels of skills vary from court to court. Several years ago, two of our players were chosen to join US collegiate stars and NBA prospects in practice games. They were J. C. Intal and Japeth. I figured they were the only two players whom Joe’s staff thought were athletic and competitive enough to join high-level practice games.”

Trillo said NBA players work out at Abunassar’s camp to polish their skills in the offseason. “I’ve seen guys like Aaron Brooks, Kevin Love and Brandon Jennings training in Las Vegas,” he continued. “Joe’s staff emphasizes training with weights, being in condition to compete. We’ll play some games against US collegiate selections during our stay.”

Trillo said other UAAP varsity teams are training in the US. La Salle is reportedly working out with Tim Grover’s staff at Attack Athletics in Chicago. Grover’s clients include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas, Dwayne Wade and Tracy McGrady. National University went to Indiana and UE to Abunassar’s camp in Los Angeles.

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Manny Pacquiao is in the history books as the only active prizefighter ever to become an elected public official.

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko lost in a bid for mayor of Kiev, Ukraine, in 2006, a year after announcing his retirement. Although he was beaten in the mayoralty race, Klitschko was elected as people’s deputy to the Kiev City Council. In May 2008, he was reelected to the council. Five months later, Klitschko returned to the ring in a historic comeback.

Former world titlist Alexis Arguello retired from boxing in 1995 and was voted vice mayor of Managua, Nicaragua, in 2004 and mayor in 2008. Last year, Arguello was killed in an apparent suicide although there is suspicion of foul play because of his political leanings.