Petron rookie Chris Lutz and Talk ‘N’ Text frontliner Japeth Aguilar are hoping for contract extensions when their pacts expire in August but they’re also open to offers from other PBA teams, disclosed their agents Matthew Manotoc and Marvin Espiritu yesterday.
Lutz, who turns 27 on Saturday, averaged 17.5 points in 16 games for Petron in the recently-concluded Philippine Cup. He sat out seven games in the eliminations due to a hamstring strain but didn’t miss a single contest in the playoffs. Lutz was the only player in the league to score in double figures in every game. The former Marshall University guard also led the conference in free throw conversions and average minutes at 37.9. Aguilar, 25, was the PBA’s first overall draft pick in 2009. After playing a single game for Burger King in 2009-10 and an extended stay with the Smart Gilas national squad, the 6-9 beanpole from Western Kentucky University returned to the PBA this past conference, averaging 8.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, a league-high 1.8 blocked shots and 19.8 minutes in 26 outings with the Texters.
Another player whose contract is expiring in August under Manotoc and Espiritu is Alaska rookie guard Julius Pasculado who saw action in only one game during the Philippine Cup.
“It’s just a matter of time before Japeth breaks out,” said Manotoc, a psychology graduate from Claremont McKenna College in Los Angeles. “Clearly, there’s no Filipino as fast, agile and athletic with his size. He’s excited to play and sometimes, his immaturity shows because when he has the ball, the first thing that comes to his mind is to dunk. He’s still raw. Japeth needs to develop mental toughness but with more experience, he’ll get there. His drawback is right now, he doesn’t let go of his lapses and carries them over. He’s got to learn to move ahead because no one in the league has a bigger upside.”
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As for Lutz, Manotoc said he was signed to a one-year contract by Petron. “The challenge is for Chris to prove himself,” said Manotoc. “With what he showed in the first conference, there’s no doubt he’s an impact player. We’re looking forward to a longer contract with Petron.”
Manotoc said Pasculado, 24, is a work in progress. “Nobody works harder in the gym than Julius,” said Manotoc. “He was born in Cebu but grew up in Chicago. Even during winter in Chicago, he would bike a half-hour in snow just to practice in the gym. He’s a driven player. He’ll be a PBA star for sure if only he gets a chance. He’s a deadly three-point shooter. He’s got the quickest first step I’ve ever seen. He’s coachable. He reminds me of a young Jay-Jay Helterbrand with the appeal of a Mark Caguioa.” In the rookie camp last year, Paculado led the pack in the shooting contest from five spots on the floor, knocking down 19-of-25.
Manotoc and Espiritu are also engaged in signing up commercial endorsements for Alex Cabagnot (Hanford underwear), Arwind Santos (in a tie-up with Viva), Bobby Ray Parks (Burlington socks), Kirk Long (Regatta) and Gary David. Expected to join the stable is Marcio Lassiter.
Manotoc, 23, and Espiritu, 34, formed their sports management company last year. “We feel there’s a lot more that can be done for our athletes,” said Manotoc whose father Tommy is a former PBA grand slam coach and mother Imee is Ilocos Norte governor. “We’re offering our professional services to relieve athletes of the pressure of negotiating contracts, finding commercial endorsements and planning for the future. We want athletes to concentrate on what they do best – perform on the court. Our athletes are like our brothers. I’ve been involved in investing funds since I was a teenager so I use my experience in designing financial plans for our athletes.”
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Espiritu said he is full-time into managing athletes after entrusting his ice retail business to a partner and a retail wine/liquor store near the Baclaran church to his wife. “My father Danny is considered the pioneer and premier sports agent in the country with several marquee players in his care like Jayson Castro, Gary, Mark Caguioa, Cyrus Baguio, Mac Cardona, Arwind and Alex,” said Espiritu. “He’s given us the go-signal to maximize the earning potentials of his athletes. We realize basketball is their bread-and-butter but we want to transform our PBA stars into mainstream celebrities, to bring back the days when players were so popular they would come out in movies and TV series. If we succeed, this will benefit the PBA as a whole.”
Espiritu and Manotoc said their approach is different from other sports agents. “We love and play sports ourselves,” said Manotoc. “I used to play competitive golf. I box. Marvin and I play pick-up ball with Japeth, Julius and other guys. In the coming draft, we’ll be representing 6-8 Yousef Taha, a Filipino-Jordanian from Mapua, and Fil-Am Jason Deutchman of San Diego State.”
Source: Joaquin Henson, The Philippine Star
