B Pier keen on signing up Japeth

SINGAPORE – Japeth Aguilar is homeward bound, guaranteed to get a maximum contract for at least two years with the Globalport Batang Pier.

“We’ll definitely sign him. Coach Junel (Baculi) likes him. We’ll give him two or three years, max, as he’s still very young at 26,” said Globalport official Erick Arejola.

Aguilar is ending up playing with Globalport – not with Barangay Ginebra – in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup starting Feb. 8 as the supposed multi-team, multi-player trade deal was put on hold following one hitch.

“He’ll stay with us,” said Arejola.

An official of another ball club, however, said they would pursue the original trade plan. “Humirap lang, pero hahabulin pa rin namin iyan (Things have become complicated but we’ll still pursue the deal),” said the official who requested anonymity.

Days before leaving for this bustling city state, six teams had reached an agreement for a huge trade deal that involved Aguilar’s transfer from Talk n Text to Globalport then to Meralco and finally Barangay Ginebra.

For his part, Aguilar said he did ask to be traded even as he expressed his excitement to play again in the PBA.

“It’s true that I asked to be transferred to another team. Because I’ve been hearing talks about it (trade) so I decided to just push through with it. It’s getting difficult anyway,” said Aguilar. “I’m excited to play again.”

“I’m happy for my new team. I was surprised that even Sol (Mercado) transferred. We all know what he did last conference and hopefully he can repeat that. Then we also have Willie (Miller) and Gary (David).

With a solid backcourt, Aguilar hopes he can finally be the man up front for Globalport.

“The three of them are all proven scorers. But I’ll take whatever role coach (Junel) will assign to me. It’s still a team game. I just want the chance to show what I can do,” said Aguilar.

The Globalport-Talk n Text deal was consummated Thursday but the other supposed trades were shelved.

In the previous agreement, Globalport would end up with Sol Mercado and Jay Washington while Aguilar would land at Ginebra.

But even with the original player movement aborted, Globalport expressed satisfaction having Mercado and Aguilar instead. “Our team manager BJ Manalo is the one talking to Japeth. I was told Japeth’s flying home Monday,” said Arejola.

Words, however, are out that SMC officials will meet tomorrow to discuss their Aguilar bid. They may get Aguilar after the former Western Kentucky U player has signed a contract with Globalport.

Aguilar’s playing contract with Talk n Text expired at the end of the 2011-12 PBA season. He sat out the recent Philippine Cup while pursuing a dream to play in the NBA D-League. When he failed to make the US semi-pro league, he demanded Talk n Text that he be traded.

Before agreeing on the Aguilar-Al Hussaini swap, Talk n Text coach Norman Black said he has his plans for Aguilar.

“You’ll always have a place (in the team) for a 6-foot-9 player who’s so athletic he can jump out of the gym,” said Black. – With report from Alder Almo