Snow Badua Hints at Possible Japeth Aguilar Trade After Coach Tim Cone’s Praise: Should Ginebra Fans Be Worried?
A social media post from veteran sports journalist Snow Badua has once again stirred speculation in the PBA world — this time involving Barangay Ginebra’s high-flying big man Japeth Aguilar.
Badua shared a photo of coach Tim Cone praising Aguilar with the teasing caption:
“Naku. Baka ma-trade to. Baka lang ha. Kabado ko sa mga ganyang linyahan ni coach Tim eh.”
This seemingly innocent post immediately set off alarm bells among Ginebra fans, as Badua has a well-known reputation for dropping trade hints that often materialize later. His cryptic tone — half-joking, half-suspicious — implies that Aguilar may soon be on the trading block.
A Familiar Pattern?
Longtime followers of the PBA and coach Cone are familiar with the pattern that Snow is pointing out: glowing praise for a player sometimes precedes a surprising trade. While it's not always the case, several past instances have reinforced this “jinx” — where a coach's public admiration is later followed by a roster shake-up.
So, should Ginebra fans be alarmed?
Japeth Aguilar Is Still a Key Piece
At 37 years old, Japeth Aguilar is no longer in his prime, but you wouldn’t know it from his recent play. He continues to be one of the most athletic and dependable big men in the PBA, anchoring Ginebra’s defense and giving them vertical spacing on offense that no other player on the roster can replicate.
He's also coming off a strong performance this conference, showing flashes of the same explosiveness and shot-blocking instincts that made him a staple of the Gilas Pilipinas national team.
Trading Japeth would leave a huge hole in Ginebra’s frontcourt — especially since Christian Standhardinger has been inactive this conference, and rookie additions have yet to prove they can take on a full load of interior responsibilities.
Is There a Market for Japeth?
Absolutely. Teams in need of a veteran presence and defensive anchor would line up to get Aguilar, especially if the asking price is manageable. However, his value to Ginebra — both on the court and as a fan favorite — makes any potential deal a high-stakes move.
Unless coach Tim Cone and the Ginebra brass have a younger, ready-made replacement lined up, or a franchise-altering trade package on the table, moving Japeth would be a tough sell to the Ginebra faithful.
Conclusion: A Trade? Possible. Logical? Questionable.
While Snow Badua’s post was likely half-serious, the possibility of a Japeth Aguilar trade does exist, especially in a league where player movement often comes when least expected. Still, given his current impact and the team’s ongoing title aspirations, trading him now may not make much sense — unless Ginebra is planning something massive behind the scenes.
Until anything is confirmed, fans can take a deep breath — but in the PBA, where smoke often leads to fire, it’s wise to keep an eye on the horizon.
Comments
Post a Comment