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.

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.