After months of negotiations, Japeth Aguilar’s transfer to Barangay Ginebra was approved by the league yesterday with Globalport snagging in return a veteran big man in Jay Washington and a young rookie to address its lack of muscle underneath.
The deal had the Batang Pier giving up Jason Deutchman to get Washington from Petron Blaze before shipping Aguilar to Barangay Ginebra for 6-foot-8 project, Yousef Taha, to complete a rebuilding process that would hopefully take Globalport, the rookie team this season, past the eliminations for the first time.
Ginebra also gave up Elmer Espiritu for Barako Bull’s 2013 first round pick, which it packaged together with Taha to get Aguilar.
Deutchman went to Petron together with Globalport’s 2016 and 2017 second round draft picks.
“Jaywash and Taha fill the void and weaknesses of Globalport in the post,” said team owner Mikee Romero, whose Batang Pier won just a combined three games in their first two PBA conferences.
“Also, we can use the pick we got to rebuild our team,” added the sportsman. “With the addition of Washington, things are looking good for us. I’ll be happy if we advance to the playoffs this time around.”
The season-ending, import-flavored Governors’ Cup comes off the wraps on Aug. 14.
Aguilar has bounced around from team to team since entering the league as the No. 1 pick in 2010 with Burger King under Yeng Guiao. He’s also had a stop at Talk ‘N Text where he demanded more time on the floor.
He later went back to the United States to try his luck in the NBA D-League before Globalport took him just before the start of the Commissioner’s Cup.