JAPETH Aguilar is not inclined to rejoin the Slam Dunk contest despite his breathtaking aerial display in last week’s PBA All-Star Game in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
Aguilar wowed the fans with his highlight dunks during Sunday’s All-Star Game, highlighting his aerial show by jumping over South slotman June Mar Fajardo for an emphatic one-handed slam.
But the 6-foot-9 Ginebra high-flyer bared he has no plan, as of now, to compete in the annual All-Star sidesgow, saying he believes he no longer has enough spring to execute difficult dunks that he hasn't done for quite some time now.
“Nag-aalangan ako kasi ‘yung timing ko rin wala,” said the 32-year-old Aguilar on Friday. “Mostly ‘yung mga dunks ko mga power dunks pero ‘yung mga nagagawa ko before, matagal ko na hindi nagagawa.
"Medyo nag-aalangan ako. Hindi ko rin sure kung ano ‘yung kundisyon ng katawan ko.”
Aguilar joined the contest twice before, finishing fifth in a field of seven in the 2014 event where Rey Guevarra and Justin Melton emerged co-champions. He lost in the finals to Guevarra the following year.
During the All-Star Game itself, Aguilar felt he had the legs to execute difficult dunks, especially the one over Fajardo.
“Nung last All-Star Game ko, medyo maganda ‘yung pakiramdam ko kaya nagagawa ko ‘yung nakapag-perform ako ng mga ganung dunks,” said Aguilar.
But he fears that may not be the case during the contest itself.
"Nag-aalangan kasi ako," he said.
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