JAPETH Aguilar was already on the trading block long before he asked to be released by Talk 'N Text.
In a startling revelation, Peter Aguilar, the father of the gangling center out of Western Kentucky University, disclosed it was Talk `N Text which made the first move to dump his son shortly after he went to the US to pursue his NBA dream.
“Three days pa lang dito sa Amerika si Japeth nung August, itine-trade na siya sa Globalport ng Talk `N Text,” bared the elder Aguilar to Spin.ph from Chicago on Friday, while reiterating that his son never initiated the trade demand.
“Gusto ko pong ipaalam sa lahat na hindi po si Japeth ang unang humiling na ma-trade siya. Itine-trade na siya. Sila ang unang nag-bukas ng trade ni Japeth.”
The former PBA player then hit out at his son’s former coach at Talk `N Text, Chot Reyes, who gave the enigmatic big man a very public tongue-lashing on Twitter after Aguilar's Philippine agent aired his wish to be traded. Here's the link.
“Sana kung magbibigay siya ng advice, huwag in public… ano siya? Kilala na siya, di na siya dapat magpakilala pa run (sa Twitter). Hindi naman ito alitan na parang high school,” said Aguilar, referring to several messages posted by Reyes on his Twitter account @coachot.
Reyes took to the social networking site to air his opinion about Aguilar’s wish to be traded and his gripes about the lack of playing time during his stay with the Tropang Texters in a story posted by Spin.ph. Here's the link.
“Yung sinabi ni Chot na ‘playing time is earned’… hindi na lang ako nag-react… kasi alam ko naman professional si Chot, pero hindi ko lang makuha bakit kailangang sa Twitter niya pa idaan.
“Pero mabait ang anak ko… Hindi naman nag-demand ng playing time `yun eh. Kung talagang humihingi ng playing time si Japeth, dapat nung unang conference pa lang na binangko siya, nagreklamo na sana yung bata,” Aguilar, the father, said.
“Eh ilang buwan pa niyang binangko eh. Wala naman siyang narinig na sinasabi yung bata.”
The US-based former PBA player stressed his son is the soft-spoken type who often fails to express what he wants to say.
Nonetheless, the elder Aguilar is optimistic that his son’s transfer to Globalport following a trade for Rabeh Al-Hussaini, will be a new beginning to his career.
“Nakaburo naman kasi siya, paano niya ipapakita ang kakayahan niya?" he said. “Pero buti naman at marami siyang natutunan rito. Sana makapaglaro na siya.
“Nagkaka-edad na rin si Japeth, kaya dapat na talaga siyang magpakita … yan ang trabaho niya eh, dyan siya nilagay ng Diyos.”
Asked if he sees Japeth finally coming out of his shell and dominate the league, Aguilar replied, “Hintayin natin `yung time na nagpapakita na siya. Kaya niya yan kung kaya niya, na-experience na niya yun rito (US) eh.
“Kung wala namang alam sa basketball si Japeth eh di sana hindi siya nakuha (sa US NCAA),” he added.
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