Talk n Text's Japeth Aguilar Returns to PBA Action

Japeth Aguilar: 2009 PBA Top Draft Pick

          Japeth Aguilar makes a return stint in the pro league, two other Smart Gilas mainstays make their pro debut while two-time MVP winner Willie Miller plays for his fifth ball club in Day Three of the 2011-12 PBA Philippine Cup at the Ynares Center in Antipolo today.

          

          Aguilar, the 2009 top draft pick who had a one-game stint with Burger King, joins Talk n Text as it starts its all-Filipino title defense against Meralco at 7:30 p.m. Petron Blaze, the Governors Cup champ which repulsed B-Meg, 73-69, last Wednesday, goes for a follow-up win as it takes on Barako Bull at 5:15 p.m. It’s an interesting twin-bill to be marked by the initial outing of Aguilar with the Texters, Jason Ballesteros with the Bolts and Dylan Ababou and Miller with the Energy Kings. Four other players in Don Allado, Jondan Salvador, Alein Maliksi and Paul Sorongan play their first game with the newly overhauled Barako team (formerly Air21) pitted against a Petron side beefed up with the addition of Chris Lutz. Petron now faces its former players Mick Pennisi and Sunday Salvacion who were instrumental in the Boosters’ epic seven-game series against Talk ‘N Text in the 2011 PBA Governors’ Cup finals, but were traded during the off-season to acquire the services of rookie Chris Lutz, returning Dondon Hontiveros, and center Carlo Sharma. Aside from Pennisi and Salvacion, other ex-Petron players in the Barako bull roster are Danny Seigle, Paul Artadi, and Dorian Pena. Although Dondon Hontiveros will have to sit down the next couple of days after hurting his calf in their game against the Llamados. Petron is also looking to sign up free agent Rob Reyes while awaiting the return of Jay Washington and Rabeh Al-Hussaini from injury. Likewise starting the season with a crippled lineup is Talk n Text. “I feel a lot of excitement tinged with apprehension because we don’t have our three national players,” said Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes, mentioning the three-week rest they’ve given to Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo. Aguilar, the 6-foot-9 player with an experience of US NCAA play, is likely to assume key role right away at TnT in the absence of the three. Aguilar and his teammates will be up against the Meralco team working with a souped-up roster. “It would be interesting to see how our seven new players will blend in. One thing is certain, we will exhibit toughness on the court and we will compete for every possession just to increase our chance to win,” said Meralco coach Ryan Gregorio. “Talk n Text, with its vast experience, is always a tough match-up. They have a strong roster on every position and with Japeth in their lineup, it even fortified their roster power,” Gregorio also said. Meralco also strengthened its lineup in signing up rookies Ballesteros and Gilbert Bulawan and trading for Mark Yee, Chico Lanete and Mark Macapagal. “We’re excited to play our first game. We are truly energized specially with the roster upgrade that we did in the off-season,” said Gregorio. “We will still miss Sol (Mercado) but Mac Cardona will start out the conference healthy.”