Top overall pick rookie Japeth Aguilar and the Burger King management are all set to resolve their differences before the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 35th season kicks off.
A reliable source, who requested anonymity, told The Manila Times that Aguilar will meet Burger King Team Governor and PBA Chairman Lito Alvarez to sign the P8.7-million three-year contract once the 6’10” rookie returns to the country from the United States.
“I think they [Aguilar’s camp] realized now what would be the consequences,” said the source. “As far as I know Japeth’s father [Peter Aguilar] is doing what’s the best for his son and that’s to play in the PBA and serve the country. I’m sure everything will be fine in just few days.”
The source also cited that Aguilar’s problem regarding his former agent Dondon Monteverde, who is set to sue him for contract breach, as one of the many reasons why the former West Kentucky standout is thinking of renewing talks with Burger King.
Aguilar, who went to the US for a two-week vacation, had previously refused to sign with Burger King—the team that selected him as the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. The top pick wanted to play with the Smart Gilas team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.
But Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Noli Eala clarified that they have no standing offer to Aguilar to play with Smart Gilas.
Alvarez quoted Samahang Basketbol President Manny Pangilinan as saying that Smart Gilas will not entertain Aguilar unless the conflict between him and the Burger King management is resolved.
Besides, the action of Aguilar doesn’t also sit well with other PBA board of governors.
Had Aguilar refused to sign with Burger King, he would have been given a severe sanction, possibly a lifetime ban to play in the pro league.
By Josef T. Ramos, Correspondent
Source
This has really become quite a mess for Japeth. The PBA is a big business so it's not difficult to see why so many people are upset about his decision. It's too bad that he wasn't able to sort things out in the past. That way, he would've been able to choose where he really wanted to go.
Hopefully, Japeth Aguilar can still join Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the 2011 FIBA-Asia men's championship and perhaps even the 2012 London Olympics.
Proof that it is leaving no stones unturned in its ambitious quest to qualify in the 2012 London Olympics, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has officially signed up former Los Angeles Laker CJ Giles for a one-year contract. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala said having Giles agreed to sign up and play for the RP-Smart Gilas team is the first major step in acquiring a long-sought naturalized player.
Eala refused to disclose the amount involved in the contract, but hinted it is close to the salary being received by a PBA import.
Reinforcements in Asia’s first ever play-for-pay league approximately get $15,000 a month, an amount that could net the 23-year-old Giles $180,000 or roughly P7.27 million a month.
Eala has been vocal about SBP’s plans to naturalize Giles as part of its ambitious project to qualify in the 2012 London Olympics. “We’re really excited to have CJ in the lineup. It’s one of the ingredients that will give (the Nationals) a better shot at an Olympic slot in London."
The 6-foot-10 American is still in the U.S. after attending the NBA Summer League recently playing for the Denver Nuggets, where he averaged 7.2 points and 7.0 rebounds. But he is expected to return here on September 1 and start practicing with Serbian coach Rajko Toroman and the RP-Smart Gilas team.
The SBP is now in the process of seeking the help of Antipolo City Rep. Robbie Puno to speed up the naturalization of Giles, who played with the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oregon State Beavers during his college years.
Puno heads the Committee on Youth and Sports development in the House of Representatives and once worked with Eala during his stint as PBA commissioner.
The SBP, according to Eala, has the option to extend Giles’ contract depending on how he performs with the Smart-Gilas team.
Aside from the monthly stipend, part of the multi-million contract also includes a house and a car service. Eala added: he can also bring with him his brother and three-year old son."
Giles, who was never selected during the 2008 NBA Draft, first made an impression when he reinforced the Smart Gilas team in the recent FIBA-Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia, where the Nationals made the quarterfinals and eventually finished fifth overall.
Several teams, according to Eala, had been recruiting Giles as possible naturalized player, including regional powerhouse Lebanon.
Unable to sign up Giles, the Lebanese eventually settled with Mahram-Iran’s import Jackson Vroman, who already suited up for Lebanon in the 25th FIBA-Asia men’s basketball championship in Tianjin, China.
As part of its training for next year’s Asian Games, the RP-Smart Gilas team will be playing as a guest ballclub in the coming 35th season of the PBA, with Giles expected to suit up for the Nationals. – GMANews.TV
Source
With Giles, Team Pilipinas has certainly solidified the center position. I just wonder who his back-up is going to be.
PERHAPS the Japeth Aguilar camp has realized the 22-year-old, six-foot-10 player’s refusal to sign up with Burger King in favor of a stint in the national team leaned more on the negative than on the positive. On Wednesday morning Peter Aguilar, the ex-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player and national team member, came out in public and told a radio program via overseas phone call that money was never an the issue.
And the elder Aguilar hinted their camp would no longer explore the possibility about his son reversing his decision and eventually signing up with Burger King.
“Money is not involved here,” Aguilar, who played five seasons in the PBA, told dzSR Sports Radio. “Hindi naman kami naghihirap dito [United States]. Kung pera lang, pareho lang naman ng offer. Gusto lang talaga maglaro ni Japeth sa national team.”
The young Aguilar has been on the hot seat since the BusinessMirror broke the news that he is not interested about a PBA career but in a stint with the national team under the Smart Gilas squad.
Aguilar was picked No. 1 in the annual draft last month by Burger King. He was offered a maximum three-year deal worth P8.7 million by Burger King.
Both Lito Alvarez, Burger King’s representative to the PBA board and incoming league chairman, and head coach Yeng Guiao fumed at Aguilar’s decision.
Even commissioner Sonny Barrios implied his dismay over Aguilar and made statements that bordered on propriety in the youngster making sound decisions and for him to speak for himself and not through his agent or manager.
Aguilar, according to Barrios, was offered the same package by Smart Gilas, which, interestingly, is bankrolled by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, a coowner of Burger King.
There are unconfirmed reports though that Aguilar is bound to receive more, perhaps in perks, from Smart Gilas, which is honing for the 2011 Asian championship where the winner will get a slot in the 2012 London Olympics. Aguilar, however, denied this.
In the radio interview, the older Aguilar said his son has decided to stick it out with the national team while he was still in Tianjin where he was sparingly used against the stronger teams.
“Noong nasa China siya, sinabihan niya ako na gusto niya ulit maglaro sa national team,” said Peter Aguilar. “Sabi ko sa kanya, ikaw magde-desisyon kung ano talaga ang gusto mong gawin.”
Ironically, the young Aguilar announced before Tianjin that he was interested in a PBA career. He, too, submitted his application for the draft, reportedly through his agent Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Before the draft, he told media he was feeling wary about him being the No. 1 pick. He attended the draft and was obviously beaming when he was picked No. 1.
Asked if his son would ever change his mind, Aguilar was almost blunt in saying it is no longer possible at this point.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi na siguro. Naiintindihan ko na masama ang loob nila kay Japeth pero talagang sa national team muna gusto maglaro ni Japeth ngayon,” he said.
The young Aguilar is currently in the United States for a two-week vacation.
Written by Joel Orellana
Source
Looks like BK has just wasted their draft pick. You cant blame them since they didnt see this one coming. For the sake of their fans, they should find a way to bounce back from this setback.
Daunting the task may be, but Smart-Gilas Pilipinas coach Rajko Toroman is optimistic about his team’s chances of earning the lone berth at stake for Asia in the 2012 London Olympics.
“It’s not going to be easy, but we have to believe that we can do that (qualify for the Olympics)," said Toroman, whose young wards are preparing for the 2011 FIBA-Asia men's championship that serves as qualifier for the London Games.
"In the beginning it may be painful, we will lose some games, we will be sacrificing, we will be going through some difficult situations. But in the end, our goal is 2011 (FIBA-Asia meet) and we will do everything to put things together," he added.
Along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala, Toroman scouted the opposition during the last FIBA-Asia championship in Tianjin, China and noted that besides the host team, the Middle East countries, specifically Jordan, Lebanon and Iran, a squad he used to coach in the past, have slowly risen as emerging powers in Asian basketball.
The Iranians, now handled by another Serbian in Veselin Matic, routed Yi Jianlian and the Chinese national team, 70-52, in the championship game to retain their title.
“You saw that the competition was very strong in China. So it’s difficult now to judge about our chances," said Toroman, the architect of Iran’s rise to power in Asian basketball.
But Eala saw something positive in Iran’s big win over a country long been considered as the best in Asia.
“I think the biggest thing that gave me hope was when Iran beat China in their homecourt. If you look at Iran, it’s no bigger than us, except maybe for (center) Hamed Ehahadi who’s really the focal point. But everyone else, I guess, is comparable to us.
“But it’s not so much the height and the size of Iran that impresses me, but it’s their look of confidence and the look that they are having fun as a team….when you look at them, it’s like they’ve been living together the past 20 years. They just seem like they know one another very well," said Eala.
Also part of Eala’s optimism is the long-term program the basketball association has implemented through the formation of the Gilas team under Toroman.
“One thing that gives me a lot of hope is the fact that we have a program. We have an honest-to-goodness program to back up our desire to win in 2011," he said.
“The program consists of an international coach who knows what it takes to win in the international arena and has got the experience and credentials to show for it," Eala said, referring to Toroman.
Outside of the program and a coach knowledgeable in the international type of play, Eala also cited the full backing of corporate sponsor Smart, exposure to a lot of games and tournaments abroad, and the commitment of the players to the team as the other key components that hopefully would help Gilas Pilipinas achieve its goal in 2011.
“With all of these ingredients together, we are hopeful, we are optimistic that we have a program that is in place," Eala said.
Then again, the SBP official reiterated that it wouldn’t be easy for the Gilas squad.
“It’s gonna be very tough. Let’s be realistic and let’s manage everybody’s expectations. It’s not a shoo-in. It’s not a matter of showing up in 2011 and winning that slot," said Eala.
The 54-year-old Toroman noted how Iran also went through the same phase when he first handled the team in 2007.
But playing together all-year-round and acquiring experiences in the international level toughened the Iranians up and made them what they are right now – a two-time FIBA-Asia champion.
“We played many international games. Do you think that it was nice to lose 25 out of those 35 games? It was very tough for me, for the players. But we just believed we were sacrificing together. We just believed that these games will give us something new and something better in the future," he said. - GMANews.TV
Source
I like the optimism from Coach Toroman. If we are going to put forth effort in joining something, we should be in it to win it.
