Spectacular Aguilar is more than just a dunker says coach

MANILA, Philippines - Japeth Aguilar, who came close to becoming the first Filipino in the NBA D-League, continues to be spectacular in the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship.

For the second straight game, Aguilar came off the bench to energize Gilas Pilipinas in what their victims' coach described as "one quarter of great intensity".

Aguilar checked back into the game with Gilas barely leading the previously unbeaten Qatar, 24-22, and he immediately showed impact on both ends of the floor leading to the emphatic 80-70 victory.

All of his 40-inch vertical leap and 7-foot-2 wingspan were all over the court during Gilas' mighty second quarter run to take full control of the game.

When the 6-9 athletically-gifted Filipino soared for what is becoming a customary Japeth jam, Gilas has opened up a dozen lead, 37-25.

"They [Gilas Pilipinas] deserved to win tonight. They gave us a lesson in playing with intensity," Qatar coach Thomas Robert Wisman said. "It takes one quarter of great intensity that they had in the second quarter that we didn't match to make a difference in a ballgame."

And Aguilar has a lot to do with that.

More than the six points and three rebounds he registered in that pivotal second quarter, Aguilar's energy was off the charts.

While he's not busy slamming the ball, pulling up for 18-foot jumpers or grabbing the rebound, he provided the anchor in the middle giving Marcus Douthit extended rest on the bench.

He was again up to the task when Douthit sat down with an injured right knee towards the end of the third quarter. His most spectacular moment came when he connected on an eye-in-the-sky play with point guard LA Tenorio giving Gilas a commanding 22-point lead, 63-41, 2:22 left to play in the third canto. 

He finished with his best game so far in the Asian stage totaling 14 points, including an exclamation dunk that wrapped up the emphatic 10-point win, and grabbed seven boards in only 18 minutes of play.

Gilas coach Chot Reyes has nothing but great words for the Aguilar, who has put the Twitter scolding episode all behind them.

“Japeth is doing his role. You know, the dunks are spectacular but what he’s really doing well is playing defense and getting rebounds,” Reyes said. “He’s doing a fantastic job.”

And Aguilar isn’t just motivated personally but has learned to see the bigger picture.

“It’s not only about myself,” Aguilar said in the post-game interview. “It’s actually more of a team effort for me.”

Aguilar has this long-time dream of becoming the first Filipino player in the NBA. But this time, he’s dreaming of something bigger.

“The fact that the tournament is being held here, we don’t want to let them [Filipinos] down,” Aguilar said.  

And when that happens, who knows Aguilar might soon find himself back again on NBA scouts’ radar.