Controversial Japeth speaking like a pro

source: businessmirror.com.ph

All Japeth Aguilar wants now is to focus on the task ahead.

The controversial top pick in the rookie draft finally came to terms with Burger King and played his first Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) game Sunday night against Purefoods Tender Juicy.

Now, the 22-year-old, six-foot-10 forward’s goal is contribute to the success of the Whopper.

“Nandito lahat ang concentration ko sa ngayon,” said Aguilar minutes before joining Burger King in the traditional parade of teams during the opening ceremonies of the 35th season of the PBA.

“’Yung ibang concerns ko, sa isang tabi muna. Sa ngayon, ang focus ko ay ang matulungan ang Burger King,” said Aguilar. Aguilar had his scrimmage with the Whopper Saturday morning, less than an hour after his camp and Burger King management agreed to a one-year deal.

Aguilar wanted to play for Smart Gilas but the intercession of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president and Talk ’N Text owner Manny V. Pangilinan solved the crisis.

“Lahat ng family members ko, sister, auntie, parent ko, parang tinitingnan namin ang future eh,” he said. “Basta kung ano ang napag-desisyunan ng management, doon ako.”

After months of waiting, Aguilar’s camp finally agreed to a one-year deal with the Whopper although there are speculations he will not stay long as a Whopper and will eventually be traded to Talk ’N Text. He previously rejected a three-year, P8.7-million offer from Burger King, a maximum contract a PBA team can offer to the No. 1 pick.

But Aguilar still sees his future in a different plateau, despite all the effort to appear professional.

“National team pa rin ang ultimate goal ko,” said Aguilar. “But I have a little catching up to do with this team and hopefully I’ll get there,” he said.

Aguilar reunited with coach Yeng Guiao, his mentor on Team Pilipinas that played in the International Basketball Federation (Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin, China, last August.

PBA stint excites Toroman

AFTER humiliating the PBA-backed national squad last week, Serbian coach Rajko Toroman now braces for a more difficult battle when their stint as “guests” in the conference is put to a first test on Friday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Toroman is excited over how his wards would step up to the challenge without Japeth Aguilar.

“After the Team Pilipinas game, it will be more difficult for us because these teams are two or three months together now,” Toroman told the BusinessMirror Sunday. “Every game now will be tougher for us.”

The Smart Gilas squad demolished Yeng Guiao’s team by 29 points, 98-69, in a charity game last October 5 at the Big Dome.

Aguilar and American CJ Giles were responsible for that convincing win.

Smart Gilas is entered as a guest team in the conference. It will play a total of 10 games the results of which will have bearing on their opponents. It will play Burger King on Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Toroman, who brought Iran to its first Olympic stint last year in Beijing, wants to maximize their stint in the PBA and believes he will get what he wants for his young squad.

“This will benefit us because these [PBA] teams will give us a hard time,” he said.

(*above photo by Jun Mendoza)