VETERAN Gilas big men Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo both agree that the 2023 edition of the Philippine team that is preparing for the FIBA World Cup is more talented compared to the 2014 batch that saw action in Seville, Spain. The 36-year-old Aguilar, one of the few senior players in the national team, however, reiterated that they intend to emulate the way the 2014 batch played during the World Cup. Japeth Aguilar FIBA PHOTO Japeth Aguilar FIBA PHOTOThat batch, which had diminutive playmaker Jimmy Alapag leading the way, gave world-class national squads like Croatia, Greece, which then had a budding forward by the name of Giannis Antetokoumpo, and Argentina, scary moments before eventually folding up during the group stage match. Meanwhile, Fajardo sees the expected mammoth crowd come opening night as a huge advantage for Gilas. The 6-foot-10 Fajardo and Aguilar were members of the 2019 Gilas side that failed to win in five games in Foshan, China.

Source: Manila Times August 24, 2023 04:38 UTC