WKU Basketball: Aguilar, OMV Continue World Cup Qualifying

On Monday, the qualifying for the 2019 World Cup continued with two former Hilltoppers representing their countries.

On Monday, the qualifying for the 2019 World Cup continued with two former Hilltoppers representing their countries.

Former Topper Japeth Aguilar, who made national (hell, international) news this past summer following a brawl against Australia, tied for the most points scored for the Philippines with 16 and added nine rebounds (a squad best) in his 22:16 of action in the Philippines 92–81 win over Qatar.

The win puts the Philippines in third place in Group F (above the cutoff in the six-team cell) with 13 points, along with Iran and Australia. The Philippines hold a 5–3 record and will next be in action against Kazakhstan on Friday, November 30. To see Aguilar’s performance, click here.

While Aguilar turned in a magnificent performance, the same can’t be said for Orlando Méndez-Valdez.

In Mexico’s 63–60 loss to Uruguay, OMV played just 7:28, not hitting a shot (0-for-3, all from deep) and was a -6 while on the floor. It was a performance that is far from a microcosm of his qualifying statline: He’s averaging 25.4 minutes, 13.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per night.

The loss puts Mexico at 3–5 through eight games played, and they sit fifth in the Group E cell with 11 points, tied with Panama. The USA, Argentina and Puerto Rico are the group leaders, with Uruguay in fourth (despite holding the same record and point totals as PR).

Mexico will be back in action on Thursday, November 29 against Panama. To watch last night’s game for El Tri, click here.

One name absent from this update is that of Dwight Coleby, who competed for his native Bahamas. They’re no longer in the running to qualify after going 1–6 in their first seven games.

Coleby saw action in just one game, when he played seven minutes and garnered a single rebound.