Make way for the new and improved Japeth Aguilar.
The high-flying forward proved on Wednesday that he is more than just highlight reels after igniting the Philippine national men’s basketball team to a 55-point win over Thailand.
Aguilar finished with 23 points on 10/10 shooting as well as five boards and two blocks. He scored 15 in the second quarter where he provided the spark Gilas Pilipinas needed to overcome the tough stand of Thailand.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes praised the maturity of Aguilar who back in the days had a reputation of losing focus in games.
“He has been here since the start of the Gilas program, but he’s only 29 (Aguilar is now 30)? Definitely there’s still a lot of basketball left in him,” Reyes told sportswriters during the post-game interview.
“But more than his longevity, it is really his maturity. In the previous games, he has played the support role for us, defending, getting the rebounds, setting screens. But when Thailand did a great job stopping our other offensive weapons, Japeth came through. Really, that’s how the team is built with a lot of offensive weapons. Tonight, Japeth was the most lethal of them.”
Jayson Castro couldn’t agree more.
“Malaki talaga yung improvement ni Japeth simula nung nakasama siya nung 2013 and even nung teammate ko siya sa Talk N Text,” Castro told InterAksyon.
“Dati kapag nagkakamali siya, parang nawawalaan agad ng gana. Ngayon, alam na niya gagawin niya kung paano bumawi agad sa pagkakamali.”
Castro believes the support Aguilar is getting from loved ones who always cheer for him has helped him improve his game.
“Sa tingin ko malaking tulong yun talaga sa maturity ni Japeth. Nakita mo naman yung support nila. Kaya naging mas matured and more inspired si Japeth,” added Castro.
