Top pick Aguilar may end up with no team

Controversial Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie pick Japeth Aguilar may end up empty handed if ever he won’t come to terms with Burger King, the team which tabbed him as the top pick in last month’s draft. PBA chairman and Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez explained why. “We had an agreement with (the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) that they won’t give a contract offer to Japeth unless he has settled his issue with us," said Alvarez in a recent interview by GMANews.TV. “Actually, maski nga walang sanction na ibigay ang PBA kay Japeth hindi pa rin siya makakapaglaro sa Smart Gilas based on our agreement with SBP. If ever he won’t come to terms with us, wala siyang malalaruan." The PBA board has come up with a decision recently of barring the former Western Kentucky University player from suiting up with Smart Gilas in the PBA if he failed to reach an agreement with the Whopper. But Ricky Vargas, Talk N Text’s board representative to the PBA and SBP vice chairman, didn’t agree with the decision. He believes that as guest squad in the pro league, they should be given authority on choosing the players they want to field in. “The SBP should decide whether it still wants to play or not if the PBA continues to dictates to them who should play. Japeth is not the issue here. In fact, he is not yet a member of the team," said Vargas in a text message. Vargas urged the PBA to talk to the SBP privately to finally settle the issue. But a highly-placed source from the league told GMANews.TV that Smart Gilas is now contemplating whether to join the PBA as guest team in the Philippine Cup or concentrate on its series of lined up foreign tournaments. “Reading between the lines, malamang hindi na sila sumali if ever hindi palaruin si Japeth sa Smart Gilas," said the source who requested anonymity. Vargas also clarified that the 6-foot-9 Aguilar, who also saw action for the Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team in the FIBA Asia Championship and the William Jones Cup, is not yet an official member of the Smart Gilas team. Alvarez and SBP head Manny V. Pangilinan, who also supports the Smart Gilas developmental team and the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the PBA, are still in the middle of discussions to settle the Aguilar issue. – GMANews.TV