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.

THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) added two Filipino-Australians to its developmental pool as it continues to work on its goal to form the strongest team possible for the 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia tournament. SBP executive director Noli Eala said on Thursday Sep Salinas and Matt Scheptig will arrive on Sunday to try out for the Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team.

“This is SBP’s continuing effort to form the most competitive team for future international tournaments,” Eala said in a statement.

Salinas and Shceptig will join Japeth Aguilar and American CJ Giles and the country’s top amateur standouts in an exhibition game against the Singapore Slingers on September 23 in Singapore. There were no other details that were immediately made available, except that they are based in Melbourne.

Aguilar had his first practice with Smart Gilas on Thursday at the PhilSports Arena, almost 20 days since announcing his decision to play for the national team instead of honoring his commitment with Burger King, the team that drafted him No. 1 in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) in August.

In his Twitter account, Smart Gilas aspirant Chris Tiu said: “Had a fun and productive training session today with Smart Gilas team! So fun to have Japeth and CJ Giles together as your big men!”

Eala refused to comment on whether the 22-year-old Aguilar has finally decided to play for the Smart Gilas team and sign a contract with them.

But according to Burger King head coach Yeng Guiao, team manager Lito Alvarez just allowed Aguilar to do scrimmages with the SBP’s national team while they are still trying to find a solution to the issue.

Aguilar, who played for Guiao in the Fiba-Asia tournament in Tianjin, China, turned down Burger King’s three-year, P8.7-million offer.

The PBA is still discussing possible sanctions on Aguilar.

Written by Joel Orellana / Reporter

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I wonder what positions Sep Salinas and Matt Scheptig play. It's great to know that Noli Eala and the rest of the SBP are putting forth effort in trying to form the best possible line-up for Smart Gilas in the upcoming 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia tournament. I'm really excited about how things would turn out for the team. The future certainly looks promising for Team Pilipinas.

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


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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.