PERHAPS the Japeth Aguilar camp has realized the 22-year-old, six-foot-10 player’s refusal to sign up with Burger King in favor of a stint in the national team leaned more on the negative than on the positive. On Wednesday morning Peter Aguilar, the ex-Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player and national team member, came out in public and told a radio program via overseas phone call that money was never an the issue.
And the elder Aguilar hinted their camp would no longer explore the possibility about his son reversing his decision and eventually signing up with Burger King.
“Money is not involved here,” Aguilar, who played five seasons in the PBA, told dzSR Sports Radio. “Hindi naman kami naghihirap dito [United States]. Kung pera lang, pareho lang naman ng offer. Gusto lang talaga maglaro ni Japeth sa national team.”
The young Aguilar has been on the hot seat since the BusinessMirror broke the news that he is not interested about a PBA career but in a stint with the national team under the Smart Gilas squad.
Aguilar was picked No. 1 in the annual draft last month by Burger King. He was offered a maximum three-year deal worth P8.7 million by Burger King.
Both Lito Alvarez, Burger King’s representative to the PBA board and incoming league chairman, and head coach Yeng Guiao fumed at Aguilar’s decision.
Even commissioner Sonny Barrios implied his dismay over Aguilar and made statements that bordered on propriety in the youngster making sound decisions and for him to speak for himself and not through his agent or manager.
Aguilar, according to Barrios, was offered the same package by Smart Gilas, which, interestingly, is bankrolled by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, a coowner of Burger King.
There are unconfirmed reports though that Aguilar is bound to receive more, perhaps in perks, from Smart Gilas, which is honing for the 2011 Asian championship where the winner will get a slot in the 2012 London Olympics. Aguilar, however, denied this.
In the radio interview, the older Aguilar said his son has decided to stick it out with the national team while he was still in Tianjin where he was sparingly used against the stronger teams.
“Noong nasa China siya, sinabihan niya ako na gusto niya ulit maglaro sa national team,” said Peter Aguilar. “Sabi ko sa kanya, ikaw magde-desisyon kung ano talaga ang gusto mong gawin.”
Ironically, the young Aguilar announced before Tianjin that he was interested in a PBA career. He, too, submitted his application for the draft, reportedly through his agent Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Before the draft, he told media he was feeling wary about him being the No. 1 pick. He attended the draft and was obviously beaming when he was picked No. 1.
Asked if his son would ever change his mind, Aguilar was almost blunt in saying it is no longer possible at this point.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi na siguro. Naiintindihan ko na masama ang loob nila kay Japeth pero talagang sa national team muna gusto maglaro ni Japeth ngayon,” he said.
The young Aguilar is currently in the United States for a two-week vacation.
Written by Joel Orellana
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Looks like BK has just wasted their draft pick. You cant blame them since they didnt see this one coming. For the sake of their fans, they should find a way to bounce back from this setback.
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