source: gmanews.tv
Newly-installed Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) chairman Lito Alvarez said the league would not allow Japeth Aguilar to play this season when Smart Gilas sees action as a guest team.
Alvarez explained that the PBA board has already come up with a stand concerning the former Western Kentucky University player, who suited up both for the all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team in the FIBA Asia Championship and the William Jones Cup basketball tournament.
“We in the board have an agreement that once Japeth won’t come to terms with us in Burger King, he won’t be allowed to play for Smart Gilas, which will play as guest team in the Philippine Cup," Alvarez told GMANews.TV
Former PBA board chairman Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, which was also present during the previous board meeting, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
“What is involved here is not just Burger King, but the PBA as a whole," said Trillo. “If he won’t come to terms with Burger King, it means he won’t be playing with the PBA as well. Yes, there was an agreement in the board that if ever Aguilar won’t come to terms with Burger King, he won’t be allowed to play for the guest team Smart Gilas."
Asked about his thoughts regarding the board’s decision, Talk N Text board member and SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas said he wasn’t present in the meeting when the board decided on the matter last week. He was represented by former SBP executive director Pato Gregorio, who is currently in Singapore right now.
Alvarez, however, said he remains hopeful that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will honor its word that it won’t offer a contract to the controversial top overall rookie pick.
“I’m still hoping that Mr. Pangilinan and I will continue our talks regarding the best possible way in settling amicably regarding the Japeth Aguilar issue," Alvarez said. “I think Japeth playing for Smart Gilas in Singapore doesn’t mean that he has already signed a contract with the squad."
“But what if something happens to him? Hindi naman siya under contract? Maybe, Japeth would just bank on Mr. Manny Pangilinan’s generosity na hindi siya pababayaan nito," added Alvarez.
Since Alvarez and Pangilinan are expected to settle the matter, the issue was not officially brought to PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios for deliberation. Barrios said he hopes that Alvarez and Pangilinan would settle the issue.
Aguilar, who also played for the SBP-backed Smart Gilas team in the FIBA Asia Club Championship, along with another controversial player, Andy Barroca of Far Eastern University, played for Smart Gilas in a tune up game against the Laguna Stallions last week which the developmental team of Serbian coach Rajko Toroman won handily.
Alvarez sees no problem with Barroca playing for Smart Gilas as the alleged game-fixing issue with his college team, FEU, was an internal matter.
"Wala tayong problema kay Barroca dahil hindi naman proven na involved siya sa game fixing eh and it was an internal matter. Japeth’s case is different because he already applied for the Draft and expressed intentions to turn pro then turned his back all of a sudden," said Alvarez. “I’m acting here not as team manager of Burger King but as chairman of the PBA and I’m looking on it on a bigger picture because we in the PBA don’t want to tolerate such action."
Members of the Smart Gilas developmental team together with coach Rajko Toroman, fourth from left, depart for Singapore for a series of exhibition games with the Singapore Slingers. They are, from left, Maggie Sison, MacMac Baracael, Mark Barroca, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, JV Casio and Chris Tiu. (Photo by Rudy Santos)
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