ANOTHER basketball player is set to be part of Ana Julaton’s entourage in ONE FC: Warrior’s Way later in the day at the Mall of Asia Arena.
After NBA veteran Ronny Turiaf, it’s PBA star Japeth Aguilar’s turn to be at the corner of the Filipina-American two-sport star when she takes on Walaa Abas Mohamed Kamaly.
“(Basketball players are) her lucky charm,” Julaton’s boxing coach, Angelo Reyes, said in a chat with Spin.ph after the weigh-in ceremony on the eve of the fight.
It will be remembered that Turiaf carried Julaton in celebration after her successful MMA debut last May in Rise of Heroes. This time, it’s Aguilar who vowed to help his compatriot in any way he can.
“We’re friends at nagkataon na may laban siya, so I’m here to support her,” Aguilar said. “I’m her towel boy.”
“Tiwala ako sa kanya na mananalo siya,” the Ginebra forward added. “Kahit ano (klaseng panalo) basta manalo.”
Aguilar said he has been friends with Julaton for more than two years and met her in Las Vegas when he was still trying out for the Golden State Warriors’ D-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Aguilar trained with Julaton in boxing as part of his cross training.
“And if he wasn’t playing basketball, he’s good enough to be a boxer,” Reyes said of Aguilar. “He has very quick hands, is very long, and has good power.”
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