Coming of Age

If you were 6”9 tall, can run the floor like a guard, knock down jumpers with little to no effort AND make the highlight reel-worth shotblock, best bet is you’d take the PBA by storm and post 19 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Japeth Aguilar is such a man. Even if it took him roughly 4 PBA years to get there.


When was the last time anyone has ever hated on the 6”9 beanpole? Is he still under-developed and relying only on his superb athleticism to dominate guys a clear few inches shorter than he is? Is he still the guy looking for lobs and lazy passes, wanting nothing to do with the grit-and-grind of basketball and only concentrating on his next highlight play?

Four games into the PBA Philippine Cup, and we have all been treated to a different kind of Aguilar. More mature, not as “hot on his heels” and impatient. Yes, he bites on fakes as he always does, but his defensive recovery is a lot faster and allows him to make up for his earlier in-game mistake/s.

Aguilar can read plays as well as make them. He has proven to be dependable on offense now more than we’ve seen him before. If he has the shot, he’ll take it, if not, he trusts his guards enough to let them have it and know that if he is in good position, he is going to be rewarded eventually.

Charge it to experience, his promising stint with Gilas Pilipinas or simply being able to play in a system that allows individual freedom and creativity on the court (though a bit too much at times).

Aguilar will dominate the league for years to come given his growth and newfound willingness to do whatever it takes to win (7 shotblocks in a single game solidifies that claim).

At a still improving 26, Aguilar’s NBA dream is still alive and kicking.

But for now, Barangay Ginebra fans surely don’t mind holding on to the slam-dunking giant for as long as they can.