Burger King tries to lure back top pick Aguilar

Burger King embarks on a last-ditch effort to secure the services of controversial Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) top overall rookie pick Japeth Aguilar when Whopper team manager Lito Alvarez meets with the 6-foot-9 slotman on Wednesday. Alvarez hopes to finally find a solution in the contract stalemate with Aguilar, the former Western Kentucky University player in the US NCAA who turned his back from entering a commitment with the PBA after refusing to sign Burger King’s three-year, P8.7-million maximum offer.

But whether Burger King and Aguilar will come to terms remains the biggest question. Alvarez, the current PBA chairman, said that the Whopper will exercise their rights on Aguilar’s services weeks after allowing the young cager attend the regular scrimmages and practice sessions of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ backed- Smart Gilas team. Aguilar, who also saw action for the Smart Gilas team that won over the Singapore Slingers in an exhibition game last week, chose to play for the RP developmental team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman against the Yeng Guiao’s all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball squad in Monday’s benefit game billed “Pinoy Basketbol, Kakampi N’yo". Aguilar was a member of both the Smart Gilas team and the Powerade-Pilipinas squad that saw action in major Asian basketball tournaments this year. Alvarez said he has set a time frame of up to this week to be able to seal the deal with the son of former Ginebra San Miguel and Northern Consolidated player Peter Aguilar. “I’m still banking on our agreement with the SBP that they won’t offer anything to Japeth if he won’t come to terms with us," said Alvarez. “Having that in mind, Japeth should either sign a contract with Burger King or he won’t have a future in Philippine basketball." “His initial understanding is that he has a fall back with Smart Gilas, which is expected to offer him a contract, but now that the SBP made it clear that they won’t entertain Japeth unless he settled things with us, it’s about time for him to think about his future here," he added. The SBP, through executive director Noli Eala, has made it clear that Aguilar is not yet an official member of the Smart Gilas team and won’t be able to make it unless he comes to terms with Burger King. Alvarez, who also reiterated that Aguilar can play both for Burger King in the PBA and Smart Gilas team, wants to assert whatever rights they have on the young cager. The negotiations could start Wednesday and hope everything will be settled before the Oct. 11 opening of the Philippine Cup. Talk ‘N Text board governor and SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas said in a text message that he hasn’t received any communications from Alvarez nor Eala, asking Aguilar to stop attending Smart Gilas’ practices starting Oct. 6. “I have not received any request nor has executive director Noli Eala bring this to my attention if there was one," said Vargas. – GMANews.TV