JAPETH Aguilar may be called upon anew to don the Gilas Pilipinas jersey for the coming window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.
That is, if the 37-year-old Barangay Ginebra big man is willing to do it.
National coach Tim Cone said it's all up to Aguilar if he desires to play for Gilas in the Nov. 21-24 second window, given how he's been worn out by the grueling campaign of the Kings in the PBA Governors' Cup where he served as the lone force in the middle for the popular ballclub.
"That's going to be up for Japeth. He will have to decide that, whether we wants to play, whether he feels he has the energy to play or not," said Cone heading to the Gilas training camp this weekend at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.
The availability of Aguilar was brought up as fellow power forward Jamie Malonzo has yet to completely recover from the calf surgery performed on him last May.
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Malonzo's absence earlier paved the way for Aguilar to take his spot in the national team that reached the semifinals of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The long-time Gilas player was earlier named as one of two reserves by Cone along with college player Mason Amos.
Aguilar's service was then sought out during the first window of the Asia Cup qualifiers as injuries hampered big men June Mar Fajardo and AJ Edu, helping Gilas complete a two-game sweep of Hong Kong on the road, 94-64, and Chinese Taipei at the Mall of Asia Arena, 106-53.
Now that Gilas is again shorthanded with Malonzo still not available, Aguilar is looming next in line again to be named as part of the national team roster against New Zealand on the 21st and Hong Kong on the 24th.
But Cone is not pressuring his Ginebra player to step up on the plate.
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"Leave it up that to Japeth. If not, Mason will be the 12th guy," added the Gilas coach.(RG)
