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

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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.

COACHES are divided in their opinion on American CJ Giles playing for Smart Gilas in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup in October. Sta. Lucia’s Boyet Fernandez and Rain or Shine’s Caloy Garcia said Smart Gilas would have undue advantage with Giles around. Giles remains an American until after he is naturalized for him to be able to suit up for the national team.

“Helping the national team is fine with me,” Fernandez told the BusinessMirror on Wednesday. “But having an import, huwag na siguro. May bearing kasi, mahirap talaga kapag may import ang kalaban.”

Smart Gilas would be considered a regular team in the Philippine Cup, an all-Filipino conference. That means the national developmental team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) could bring home the trophy if they top the tournament.

“Puwede sigurong sumali si Giles kapag may import na sa second conference,” added Fernandez, referring to the Fiesta Cup.

Garcia echoed Fernandez’s opinion and stressed Giles should only suit up in the Fiesta Cup.

But Siot Tanquingcen of San Miguel Beer and Jong Uichico of Barangay Ginebra see it otherwise.

“For me, okay lang. The more you increase the level of competition, the better it is for the teams, the league and the fans,” said Tanquingcen.

“I guess, it’s okay to help the country,” Uichico said.

Incoming board chairman Lito Alvarez of Burger King has earlier raised the issue about Giles’s citizenship and said he would ask his fellow governors to decide on it.

Giles, a six-foot-11 forward, is arriving on September 1. SBP has offered him a one-year contract to play for Smart Gilas in the 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia qualifier.

Written by Joel Orellana

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If CJ Giles is naturalized then i'm all for it. If philippine big men want to improve, then they should accept this oppurtunity to play against Giles as a challenge.

JAPETH AGUILAR, the No. 1 draft pick, reportedly would not be donning a Burger King (BK) jersey after all in the coming 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The BusinessMirror learned that Aguilar’s negotiations with BK management on Wednesday bogged down. Aguilar reportedly does not chart his basketball career. Ex-pro Peter, his father, and Ronnie Nathanielsz, a newspaper columnist and sports broadcaster who is said to be his manager, do the negotiating.

The six-foot-10, 22-year-old Aguilar, the BusinessMirror learned further, would instead play for Smart Gilas, a developmental team being honed for the 2011 continental championship that would determine Asia’s representative to the 2012 London Olympics.

Interestingly, telecommunications tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, who funds the Smart Gilas team, is a part-owner of Burger King. He is also president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which has the Smart Gilas in its long-term programs.

Written by Rick Olivares / Columnist

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It wont be good for BK if Japeth does end up joining Smart Gilas. They will have wasted their draft pick and along with it, a chance to solify their team.