Gilas Pilipinas veteran Japeth Aguilar in action during the Fiba OQT in Riga, Latvia. -FIBA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone went to the aid of Japeth Aguilar after their run in the Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) in Riga, Latvia.
After the Philippines’ 71-60 loss to Brazil in Riga that ended the country’s Paris Olympic homes, netizens were quick to berate Aguilar for not doing enough with his minutes for Gilas.
Cone took to Twitter on Tuesday to defend the big man, explaining how important Aguilar was to the lineup, especially in place of Kai Sotto, who was unable to play for Gilas against Brazil due to a bruised rib.
READ: Gilas’ Olympic dream ends, bows out of Fiba OQT with loss to Brazil
“I begged Japeth to join us in Latvia,” wrote the Gilas coach.
“He wanted to let the young guys do it and spend more time with his wife and new baby. [I] kept begging him. When AJ Edu went down, he finally relented after more begging.”
I begged Japeth to join us in Latvia. He wanted to let the young guys do it and spend more time with his wife and new baby. Kept begging him. When AJ Edu went down, he finally relented after more
begging. He led us, he was our team captain. His sacrifice for country was total.— Tim Cone (@manilacone) July 8, 2024
Aguilar played for 18 minutes in the loss and finished with four points, six rebounds and two steals, making two of his four shots from the field.
The brunt of the criticisms wasn’t from Aguilar’s numbers but more on his defensive lapses.
With Aguilar manning the paint in some instances of the game, NBA player Bruno Caboclo had his way inside, ultimately finishing with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
READ: Tim Cone on Gilas’ Fiba OQT campaign: Now we know we can compete
Despite the bashing, Cone made it clear that Aguilar was in the lineup—and in the game—for a reason, especially since Gilas was thinning on the front court with the absences of AJ Edu and Jamie Malonzo due to injuries.
Cone emphasized that Aguilar is a key cog for Gilas, which finished just two wins shy of a Paris Olympics ticket.
“He led us, he was our team captain. His sacrifice for country was total.”