Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Lito Alvarez is not losing hope in having Japeth Aguilar suit up for Burger King with only four days to go before the opening of the league’s 35th season.

Alvarez said he believes the best solution to end this row is for the Samahang Basketol ng Pilipnas (SBP), led by Manny V. Pangilinan, to intervene and advice Aguilar to finally sign with the Whopper in order for him to play for Smart Gilas as well.

Alvarez said SBP executive director Noli Eala sent a text message assuring that the SBP is the PBA’s ally and will support the league all the way.

“Noli texted me and said kakampi niyo kami, so I am banking on his word that SBP won’t offer anything to Japeth unless he resolves the issue with Burger King," said Alvarez.

Aguilar is Burger King’s controversial top overall pick in the last PBA rookie draft but decided to back out to pursue a career with Smart Gilas under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

This delicate issue between Burger King and the former Western Kentucky University player is yet to be resolved with the season-opening Philippine Cup ready to open on Sunday, Oct. 11.

But what surprised everyone during the league’s 35th season launching was the fact that Aguilar’s name was included in the roster of Smart Gilas, which will play as a guest team in the PBA, but the controversy added another twist when video clips of the 6-foot-9 cager from the draft and his stints in the Powerade-Pilipinas team as well as his highlight plays were deleted during the presentation.

“I was surprised when I saw Aguilar’s name in the line up of Smart Gilas even though Burger King and the (SBP) are still discussing the issue," said Alvarez.

Whether the young cager would come to terms with Burger King and pursue his PBA career, which would also allow him to play for Smart Gilas, or stick with the SBP-backed squad and face a stiff sanction from turning his back from the pro league remains to be seen.

Alvarez said the best of both worlds, which Burger King offered, remains on the table and he has discussed that with Aguilar’s parents. - GMANews.TV

“I had the opportunity of talking to the parents of Japeth and told them that why would Japeth pass up the opportunity of earning P60-million in his basketball career in the Philippines while playing both for Burger King and Smart Gilas?," Alvarez said. “It’s either double or nothing that’s his only choice."

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I hope this issue will be settled soon. Clearly, the better choice is having double the money. If that's what pleases Lito Alvarez then Japeth Aguilar should go for it.

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.