PBA: The intertwined careers of Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Japeth Aguilar

It was an unlikely sight to imagine just two weeks ago. Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Japeth Aguilar sat beside each other on one of the bleachers at the Moro Lorenzo Gym inside the Ateneo campus. Aguilar just finished his first tune-up game as his GlobalPort Batang Pier lost to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. Al-Hussaini on the other hand waited for his Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters’  turn on the hardwood against the NLEX Road Warriors It was a sight to see; two giants roaming the grounds they once called theirs. Two players who turned heads every time they walked the halls together.

They were groomed to be the pillars of Ateneo basketball. From playing in the NCAA when they were in high school, Al-Hussaini and Aguilar were both recruited by the Blue and White so they could build a championship team around them. Al-Hussaini and Aguilar were Isengard and Mordor, the Two Towers whose sole purpose was wreaking havoc on the Middle Earth kingdom that was the UAAP. But it wasn’t meant to be. The partnership ended as fast as it began. Aguilar left after his second year in college, which was Al Hussaini’s first year to try his luck in the United States. He bolted Katipunan and headed to the Western Kentucky University. After their conversation, Aguilar left Al-Hussaini and walked towards Talk ‘N Text assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga and Chris Tiu. Al-Hussaini also stood up but his destination was the GlobalPort bench where he was met by former teammates. Point guard AJ Mandani even playfully locked the big man with a rear naked choke. Even though the rapport between Al-Hussaini has stayed civil, it’s not a stretch to think that Al-Hussaini could not wait to transfer to the Tropang Texters and reunite with head coach Norman Black. NLEX player and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Kirk Long approached Al Hussaini as he received his first TNT practice jersey. “You’re back where you belong,” said Long. Al Hussaini replied with a smile. “I know coach Norman’s system and I know I can contribute here,” Al-Hussaini said. However, he knows that he won’t play heavy minutes anytime soon. “Dahil unlimited height yung mga imports, alam ko namang di ako makakalaro ng mahaba, pero wala na sa akin yun. I’ll just give to my best with the minutes I’m given.” Al-Hussaini was like a kid again. He could not help but be excited with what the future holds for him. Yes, he may be playing off the bench now, but in a few years he’ll be thrust into the spotlight once again as Ali Peek plays the last few conferences of his basketball career. A winning culture, a tremendous coach, a supportive bunch of selfless veterans, and all those championship bonuses make this the perfect situation for a young player. A situation that Aguilar walked away from. “I hate to leave TNT but if you look at their lineup, si Kelly [Williams], Harvey [Carey], at Ranidel [de Ocampo] nasa prime pa lahat,” said Aguilar. “Iniisip ko rin kasi na yung ibibigay sa akin na playing time, mawawala pa sa kanila. Ako naman gusto kong makapag-laro kasi di na rin ako bata.” [Related: GlobalPort revamps roster, adds Sol Mercado, Japeth Aguilar] Aguilar's reputation has soured as of late, mostly because of his supposed trade demand. He, however, thinks he was gravely misunderstood. “Hindi naman ako nagdedemand ng playing time,” he said. “Pero as a player, siyempre gusto ko ring makapaglaro para mapatunayan yung sarili ko.” At 26-years-old, Aguilar feels that it is about time that he proves his true worth as a basketball player. Apart from a few games with Smart Gilas and with Ateneo, Aguilar has always played off the bench. A part of this is a direct cause of his actions in the past. If he stayed in Ateneo instead of transferring to WKU, he could have been the star and the champion that Al-Hussaini turned out to be. If he stayed with the Tropang Texters instead of going to the NBA D-League, Black could have figured out how to unleash his potential. But things haven’t gone Aguilar’s way. He gambled everything but it hasn’t quite paid off yet. I’m sure this was not by design but Aguilar passed up on the chance to be coached by Black twice now. On the other hand, Al Hussaini can’t wait to be under Black’s guidance once again. “High school pa lang kami alam ko nang aabot sa PBA si Rabeh. Mas matangkad pa siya sa akin noon at makikita mo na may talent talaga,” Aguilar said of his friend. “Masaya ako nung nanalo si Rabeh ng dalawang championships sa Ateneo kasi kinuha niya talaga yung role na maging leader ng team.” Although Al-Hussaini was happy about getting the UAAP titles, he can’t help but wonder how things would have turned out if Aguilar was there. “Kung si Japeth di umalis ng Ateneo, siguro hindi lang five-peat yung ngayon. Siguro naka-seven straight yung Ateneo,” Al-Hussaini said. It’s fun to look back sometimes and imagine what could have been. It’s nice to pretend that we’re still young, free of responsibilities. But there comes a point when daydreaming must stop. For Aguilar and Al-Hussaini, that time is now. Their careers were headed in a similar direction. The un-met expectations mounted as they slowly turned from boys fresh from college to men who couldn't seem to reach their full potential. [Related: A tale of two Blue Eagles as Japeth Aguilar and Rabeh Al-Hussaini find new homes] They are two of the most physically gifted players in the PBA today but they are nowhere near the best in the league. Aguilar could very well be the best pure Filipino athlete the PBA has ever seen while Al-Hussaini is a big man with a guard’s shooting touch. They’re two of the most gifted and definitely two of the most maligned. They were set up for basketball greatness early into their careers. Together they were supposed to be the best big man duo that collegiate basketball has ever seen. But their path went separate ways. Now, at the crossroads of their respective careers, their paths crossed once more. Aguilar and Al-Hussaini were traded for each other, twisting their twine a little more. Both were unhappy about their current situations. But when they were traded for each other, they fell into situations that were perfect for their current needs. The renegade big man reunites with the coach he considers as a second father. The high-leaping athlete is unleashed with a team badly needing his help. As Aguilar walked out of the gym, he passed by Al Hussaini who was preparing for their tune-up game. “Good luck,” said Aguilar while tapping Al Hussaini’s shoulder. And with that, the two walked their separate ways in their continuing path towards the basketball greatness they dreamt together when they were still young. - AMD, GMA News