With his career finally on upswing, Japeth Aguilar eager to bring US-based parents home

With his career finally showing signs of stability, Japeth Aguilar, according to his dad Peter, longs to have his family reunited in the Philippines. Jerome Ascano

CHRISTMAS is one special occasion Barangay Ginebra star Japeth Aguilar has to spend away from his family.

Next year may be different.

With his long-mothballed career finally on an upswing, Aguilar, according to his dad Peter, has been egging him and his wife Josephine to move back to the Philippines permanently.

“Pinagre-resign na nga kami ni Japeth. Gusto daw niya sama-sama na kami dyan (sa Pilipinas),” said the elder Aguilar in an interview with Spin.ph from his home in Chicago.

Peter, a former PBA player and national team mainstay, currently works as export distribution officer for a sauce factory in the US, while Japeth's mother is a caregiver.

“Eh medyo malamig rin dito, alam mo na. Pag nagkaka-edad ka eh, hirap ka na sa ganun. 'Yun din ang laging pinapa-alala sa amin ni Japeth … kaya niya kami kunukulit,” said Aguilar.

Japeth and his sister Maika have been staying together in Taguig, where the high-flying Ginebra forward is also financing his sister’s education in a culinary school.

Aguilar’s agent, Marvin Espiritu, also seconded the statement of Peter, saying his ward has been trying to convince his parents to return to the country for months now.

“Matagal na niya kinukulit 'yung dalawa. Kasi maraming plano si Japeth sa family niya. It shows a lot of maturity sa kanya,” said the son of well-known player agent Danny Espiritu.

“Tama. Pwedeng next year andito na yung dalawa.”

Aside from giving more attention to his family, Espiritu also bared how the soft-spoken Aguilar is focused on attaining his next career goal.

"Hindi nga nag-ge-girlfriend. Kasi naka-focus siya talaga sa career niya ngayon,” said Espiritu. "Ang focus niya is to bring (a) championship to Ginebra."

Since the start of the current season, Aguilar has been the deciding factor in almost all of Ginebra’s first eight games as the league's most popular team zoomed to the top of the standings.

The lanky 6-9 forward has been lording it over in almost every division, tallying 19.75 points, 9.12 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 1.50 assists per game to lead the Kings to an amazing 7-1 win-loss slate.