JAPETH Aguilar has joined Gilas Pilipinas in its first day of practice for the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 qualifiers.
Gilas team manager Richard Del Rosario confirmed Aguilar’s presence at the Inspire Sports Academy where the national squad is conducting its training camp. Aguilar is not part of the 12-man pool that head coach Tim Cone named.
Gilas officials have yet to respond to queries about the presence of Aguilar at training camp, as of posting time.
But Aguilar’s presence could be needed in the early preparations of Gilas since the team is still waiting for the arrival of June Mar Fajardo in camp.
Fajardo did not made the trip to Calamba, Laguna on Thursday as he is still coming off a championship after San Miguel defeated Magnolia in Game Six of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals just last Wednesday.
AJ Edu is also not playing for Gilas in the first window of the Fiba Asia qualifiers after suffering an injury in his Japan B.League campaign, and will not be available to play for the national team until April.
It is still not clear if Aguilar would eventually pick up the spot of Edu, who is at Inspire despite the injury.
Aguilar is also familiar with the system of Cone being a longtime member of Barangay Ginebra. The 37-year-old last played for Gilas Pilipinas in what could be his final Fiba Basketball World Cup campaign after three editions.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
