Aguilar, Burger King now , ready to settle dispute

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.