The former Western Kentucky University reserve was not part of the team that left Sunday for Bahrain to play for a pair of tune-up games before competing in the annual Dubai Invitational Tournament slated from January 20 to 29 in Dubai.

“Japeth’s knee injury is still bothering him and it looks like he will need surgery,” said the source, who added that head coach Rajko Toroman even wanted to bring Aguilar in Dubai to seek a second opinion on his injury.

The source said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) had written the Tropang Texters management about this move.

Whether Aguilar can suit up for the Talk ’N Text this season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) remains to be seen as the league and the Manny V. Pangilinan franchise had a previous agreement regarding the matter.

After playing for one game with then Burger King in the PBA last season, Aguilar asked to be released to continue playing for the national team.

He was transferred to the Tropang Texters but the PBA, then under commissioner Sonny Barrios, made it clear that the high-leaping forward must finish his commitment first with Smart Gilas before he can play again in the PBA.

Aguilar was part of the 2009 PBA-backed national team that finished eighth in the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Men’s Championship, a qualifier for the 2010 World Championship held in Turkey.

He was used sparingly by coach Yeng Guiao in that tournament in Tianjin, China.

Aguilar was expected to be a key player when Smart Gilas represented the country in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou but he got injured in a tune-up game days before the quadrennial meet started.

According to doctors in the Asiad, Aguilar suffered a partial posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) in his right knee which up to now has not healed, that’s why people around him are advising him to undergo surgery that could sideline him for a long while.

Gilas eyes Dubai final

With eight months left before the Olympic qualifier in Wuhan, Smart Gilas head coach Rajko Toroman wants his wards know the feeling of being winners and he is eyeing at least a finals stint in the Dubai Invitational Tournament.

The tournament set from January 20 to 29 features some of the best club teams in the Middle East.

“The target is to play in the finals,” said Toroman, whose team finished third in the same tournament last year despite playing All-Filipino as their naturalization candidate Jamal Sampson saw limited action due to an injury.

Toroman will be again one man short in the 22nd edition of the Dubai meet but he will have Marcus Douthit and Asi Taulava manning the front. Taulava was given the clearance by the Philippine Basketball Association to play for the national team.

Aside from Aguilar, also missing is Greg Slaughter, who is focusing on school.

Since Smart Gilas was formed in 2009, the team has yet to win a big international basketball tournament.

Toroman and the Philippine team initially eyed the medal rounds in the Asiad but the Filipino dribblers ended up with a disappointing sixth-place finish.

“This year, we need results. We have eight months left to prepare for the [Olympic qualifier] tournament. We should have improved and reached our peak by then,” the Serbian coach said.

Toroman, who coached the Iranian team to its first Olympic Games appearance in Beijing in 2008, was referring to the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship in September 15 to 25 in China where the only champion team advances to the 2012 London Games. Joel Orellana

Completing the Smart Gilas team for the Dubai tournament are Chris Tiu, JV Casio, Mark Barroca, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Mac Baracael, Dylan Ababou, Aldrech Ramos and Jason Ballesteros.

Joel Orellana, Business Mirror