• TNT TOO MUCH FOR MERALCO

Published on October 7, 2011

ANTIPOLO – Two years after playing one game with Burger King as the top draft pick, Japeth Aguilar
returned in the pro league with aplomb, making a huge impact in Talk n Text’s rousing debut in the
37th PBA season at the Ynares Sports Center here Friday night.
 
Aguilar literally and figuratively towered above anybody else in his PBA comeback, pouring in 27
points to lead the Tropang Texters to a 98-80 rout of the Meralco Bolts.
 
Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes was hardly surprised of Aguilar's overpowering performance, saying he
knows that the 6-foot-9 behemoth can play that well.
 
“No other Filipino player has that height and his talent,” said Reyes.
 
On whether he’s only suited in the PBA but not in FIBA Asia, Reyes stressed his belief that
Aguilar can play anywhere. Reyes also said it’s the job of the coach to harness the player’s
talent.
 
The Talk n Text mentor, however, does believe that Aguilar fits their style of play.
 
“We love to run up and down, and Japeth loves to run up and down. If he can pick his spots and
understand how the opponents play, he’ll really perform well,” said Reyes of their prized
acquisition.
 
Used sparingly by coach Rajko Toroman at Smart Gilas, Aguilar appeared to be a man on mission in his
first game with the Texters.
 
The Texters put the game away from the Bolts early with Aguilar outscoring the entire Meralco team,
14-6, in the second quarter.
 
Aguilar intercepted a pass by Gabby Espinas and slammed it home off Jason Ballesteros to highlight
Talk n Text’s second-quarter onslaught that gave the Texters a 47-28 bulge at the turn.
 
The former Western Kentucky U player piled up 19 points in the first half and added eight more in
the second half for the biggest output by anybody in the season thus far.

It would be remembered that he made only 10 in his PBA debut with Burger King in 2009.
 
Jayson Castro, Jared Dillinger and Harvey Carey added at least 11 each as the Texters covered well
the absence of top stalwarts Kelly Williams, Jimmy Alapag and Ranidel de Ocampo.
 
The Bolts got off-balanced on the early ouster of Macmac Cardona on a sprained ankle, and the team
failed to recover.
 
Hard-nosed guard Sol Mercado was in civvies, still recuperating from his injury.
 
The two teams actually fought on even terms in the first quarter but the Bolts couldn’t keep up as
the Texters stepped up in the second period.
 
The Bolts scored only a single field-goal shot in their dry spell in the second quarter.
 
There was no stopping the Texters after taking that 19-point halftime cushion. (SB)
 
The scores:

Talk n Text 98 - Aguilar 27, Castro 14, Dillinger 11, Carey 11, Aban 8, Raymundo 6, Reyes 6,
Fonacier 6, Peek 4, Waters 2, Membrere 2, Alvarez 1, Lao 0.
 
Meralco 80 - Espinas 20, Lanete 13, Timberlake 10, Yee 9, Omolon 8, Taulava 8, Bulawan 5, Macapagal
4, Cardona 2, Ballesteros 1, Faundo 0, Borboran 0, Isip 0.