source: Nelson Beltran | philstar.com
Smart Gilas will not sign up Japeth Aguilar unless the top pick’s problem with Burger King in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is settled.
Burger King top official Lito Alvarez told The STAR he had this commitment from no less than Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) in a recent talk.
“MVP was surprised with what happened. He’s sad because the PBA is a very active supporter of the SBP. He promised to help. The objective is for Japeth to honor his commitment with the PBA,” said Alvarez.
“Admittedly, it’s easier said than done. But the positive development is that many have committed to help resolve the problem,” Alvarez said.
In a recent announcement, Aguilar decided to play for the Smart Gilas developmental team, turning his back on Burger King which made him No. 1 overall in the recent PBA Rookie Draft. He is now in the United States.
“It seems we have to deal not only with Japeth but with his family. We’ll not make any move yet. We’ll see what happens. It’s ceasefire,” said Alvarez.
Neither the PBA Commissioner’s Office is making any move since Burger King has yet to make a formal complaint.
Aguilar is likely to face a severe sanction in the league should he push through with his plan not to honor his commitment with Burger King.
But Smart Gilas assured Burger King that it would not entertain Aguilar while his problem with the PBA ballclub remains unresolved and instead advise the player to settle the issue with the team.
“I understand (SBP executive director) Noli Eala has been ordered to help resolve the problem,” said Alvarez.
Smart Gilas, under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, is embarking on a long-term program aimed at qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.
Rey Guevarra, RJ Jazul, Chris Tiu, Mac Baracael, JV Casio, Mark Barroca are among those who have signed up with the squad which is looking to have former LA Laker CJ Giles as naturalized player.
They will play as a guest team in the coming PBA all-Filipino tourney.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
All the right moves
Of all the moves made by teams in the Philippine Basketball Association in the off-season, I like what coach Ryan Gregorio and the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants have done.
First, the Giants acquired wiry Rico Maierhofer as the no. 2 overall pick and talented Chris Timberlake as no. 7 overall pick in the past PBA Draft. Then, they reacquired big man Marc Pingris and point guard Paul Artadi. Finally, they traded for Rafi Reavis in exchange for center Rico Villanueva.
The addition of Maierhofer and Timberlake makes the Giants younger and more athletic. The return of Artadi not only gives the Giants the fastest point guard with the ball, but more importantly gives them the point guard, who can deliver the ball and bring out the best from former Most Valuable Player James Yap.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Gregorio said his most important appointment this off-season was a lunch meeting with Artadi and Pingris.
"I sat down with Paul and Mark and told them that the reason they are back is because I made a mistake in breaking up the core of our 2005-06 Philippine Cup champion team. I am admitting that mistake and now they are back," said Gregorio.
Gregorio said he has the team that he wants. It is a balanced roster with go-to players and complementary players willing to sacrifice and do what is needed to win.
"My biggest concern now is how to create chemistry within our group," said Greogrio. "I felt that in the last few conferences, we had the talent but not the right chemistry. So that is what we have been working on in the pre-season. We want the players to like playing with each other."
Does this mean a PBA championship for Purefoods? Gregorio is not looking ahead that far. He said that a Final Four or a berth in the semifinals is their immediate goal and then they'll take it from there.
***
The team to beat this coming PBA conference is undoubtedly Fiesta Cup champion San Miguel Beer. Coach Siot Tanquingcen says that by now he is used to the pressure and high expectations that come with coaching a star-studded team like San Miguel Beer.
"You can't fault people for thinking that we should automatically win the title. I have very talented players. But talent does not necessarily win you titles. There are a lot of talented teams which have never won PBA championships. We still had to work harder than everyone else before we finally won it," said Tanquingcen.
The Beermen have become even stronger, at least on paper, with the addition of Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda in the off-season. This means heightened expectations from everyone from the fans to the team management.
"It was a good feeling to finally win a championship for San Miguel Beer," said Tanquingcen. "But, I wouldn't say okay na. Kasi sa basketball you're only as good as your last game. It's never finished. After we won the Fiesta Cup they congratulated us. Then sabi nila: Kailangan manalo kayo ng All-Filipino." Reuel Vidal - Manila Standard Today
First, the Giants acquired wiry Rico Maierhofer as the no. 2 overall pick and talented Chris Timberlake as no. 7 overall pick in the past PBA Draft. Then, they reacquired big man Marc Pingris and point guard Paul Artadi. Finally, they traded for Rafi Reavis in exchange for center Rico Villanueva.
The addition of Maierhofer and Timberlake makes the Giants younger and more athletic. The return of Artadi not only gives the Giants the fastest point guard with the ball, but more importantly gives them the point guard, who can deliver the ball and bring out the best from former Most Valuable Player James Yap.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Gregorio said his most important appointment this off-season was a lunch meeting with Artadi and Pingris.
"I sat down with Paul and Mark and told them that the reason they are back is because I made a mistake in breaking up the core of our 2005-06 Philippine Cup champion team. I am admitting that mistake and now they are back," said Gregorio.
Gregorio said he has the team that he wants. It is a balanced roster with go-to players and complementary players willing to sacrifice and do what is needed to win.
"My biggest concern now is how to create chemistry within our group," said Greogrio. "I felt that in the last few conferences, we had the talent but not the right chemistry. So that is what we have been working on in the pre-season. We want the players to like playing with each other."
Does this mean a PBA championship for Purefoods? Gregorio is not looking ahead that far. He said that a Final Four or a berth in the semifinals is their immediate goal and then they'll take it from there.
***
The team to beat this coming PBA conference is undoubtedly Fiesta Cup champion San Miguel Beer. Coach Siot Tanquingcen says that by now he is used to the pressure and high expectations that come with coaching a star-studded team like San Miguel Beer.
"You can't fault people for thinking that we should automatically win the title. I have very talented players. But talent does not necessarily win you titles. There are a lot of talented teams which have never won PBA championships. We still had to work harder than everyone else before we finally won it," said Tanquingcen.
The Beermen have become even stronger, at least on paper, with the addition of Arwind Santos and Denok Miranda in the off-season. This means heightened expectations from everyone from the fans to the team management.
"It was a good feeling to finally win a championship for San Miguel Beer," said Tanquingcen. "But, I wouldn't say okay na. Kasi sa basketball you're only as good as your last game. It's never finished. After we won the Fiesta Cup they congratulated us. Then sabi nila: Kailangan manalo kayo ng All-Filipino." Reuel Vidal - Manila Standard Today
Japeth’s woes piling up
source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph
The group of player agent Dondon Monteverde is considering suing Japeth Aguilar for breach and negligence of obligated agreements and contract.
Edgar Tan, Monteverde’s close associate, said they are now seriously plotting a court suit after Aguilar refused to honor the contract he and his mother, Josie, signed with them.
Monteverde’s group claimed it has the right to negotiate business deals for Aguilar, who he said signed a contract with the Monteverde group when he was still playing for Ateneo in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The 22-year-old Aguilar is now being represented in his business deals by sports columnist Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Aguilar applied for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft, was picked No. 1, but later turned down Burger King’s offer. He said he wants to play for flag and country and has decided to join the Smart Gilas national developmental team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“Knowing Dondon, hindi niya palalampasin ito. We’re just waiting for the advice of our lawyers kasi in the past week, ang grupo lang nila Japeth ang nagsasalita sa media,” said Tan.
“We are now preparing all the documents that will prove he really signed a contract with us,” he added.
Tan also said they are planning to include Nathanielsz in their charges for “misrepresentation of an under-contract talent.” Nathanielsz, however, claimed in interviews he is merely an adviser of Aguilar.
Aguilar is vacationing in the US but his case remains a hot item, with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board putting him on top of the agenda of their upcoming board meeting.
The PBA board is now chaired by Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez.
Tan said his group has sought a meeting with Aguilar since he returned from the Tianjin (China) Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship, but was turned down.
The former Western Kentucky University reserve refused to sign a three-year, P8.7-million offer from Burger King.
“Our plan really for Japeth is to have him enter a contract that is similar to that of [Portland Trail Blazer star] Yao Ming. He will still play in the PBA but if the country needs him in international tournaments, then he’ll be also allowed to play,” said Tan.
The group of player agent Dondon Monteverde is considering suing Japeth Aguilar for breach and negligence of obligated agreements and contract.
Edgar Tan, Monteverde’s close associate, said they are now seriously plotting a court suit after Aguilar refused to honor the contract he and his mother, Josie, signed with them.
Monteverde’s group claimed it has the right to negotiate business deals for Aguilar, who he said signed a contract with the Monteverde group when he was still playing for Ateneo in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The 22-year-old Aguilar is now being represented in his business deals by sports columnist Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Aguilar applied for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft, was picked No. 1, but later turned down Burger King’s offer. He said he wants to play for flag and country and has decided to join the Smart Gilas national developmental team of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“Knowing Dondon, hindi niya palalampasin ito. We’re just waiting for the advice of our lawyers kasi in the past week, ang grupo lang nila Japeth ang nagsasalita sa media,” said Tan.
“We are now preparing all the documents that will prove he really signed a contract with us,” he added.
Tan also said they are planning to include Nathanielsz in their charges for “misrepresentation of an under-contract talent.” Nathanielsz, however, claimed in interviews he is merely an adviser of Aguilar.
Aguilar is vacationing in the US but his case remains a hot item, with the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board putting him on top of the agenda of their upcoming board meeting.
The PBA board is now chaired by Burger King team manager Lito Alvarez.
Tan said his group has sought a meeting with Aguilar since he returned from the Tianjin (China) Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship, but was turned down.
The former Western Kentucky University reserve refused to sign a three-year, P8.7-million offer from Burger King.
“Our plan really for Japeth is to have him enter a contract that is similar to that of [Portland Trail Blazer star] Yao Ming. He will still play in the PBA but if the country needs him in international tournaments, then he’ll be also allowed to play,” said Tan.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
No more turning back for Japeth
source: Joel Orellana | businessmirror.com.ph
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.
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.
Miranda, Santos reunite at San Miguel
source: gmanews.tv
After Arwind Santos, San Miguel tabbed another former Far Eastern University King Tamaraw in the off-season.
Point guard Dennis Miranda was dealt by Sta. Lucia to the Beermen Tuesday night to clear salary cap space. Sta. Lucia will get a future pick in return.
Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez confirmed the trade, but made it clear that there was no problem between the 6-foot-1 Miranda and the team he helped steer to the Philippine Cup championship in 2008.
“It’s more on the cap space. We have no issue against Denok. Actually, we we’re saddened by his departure dahil malaking tulong siya sa amin especially when we won the Philippine Cup last year. But wala kaming magagawa because it was a management decision," said Fernandez.
In San Miguel, Miranda will be reunited with the 6-foot-4 Santos, his former FEU teammate with whom he won multiple championships during their UAAP days.
With the arrival of Miranda, the Beermen has solidified their backcourt that already has the ever steady Olsen Racela, comebacking Mike Cortez and revelation Jonas Villanueva, himself a former FEU stalwart.
After Arwind Santos, San Miguel tabbed another former Far Eastern University King Tamaraw in the off-season.
Point guard Dennis Miranda was dealt by Sta. Lucia to the Beermen Tuesday night to clear salary cap space. Sta. Lucia will get a future pick in return.
Realtors coach Boyet Fernandez confirmed the trade, but made it clear that there was no problem between the 6-foot-1 Miranda and the team he helped steer to the Philippine Cup championship in 2008.
“It’s more on the cap space. We have no issue against Denok. Actually, we we’re saddened by his departure dahil malaking tulong siya sa amin especially when we won the Philippine Cup last year. But wala kaming magagawa because it was a management decision," said Fernandez.
In San Miguel, Miranda will be reunited with the 6-foot-4 Santos, his former FEU teammate with whom he won multiple championships during their UAAP days.
With the arrival of Miranda, the Beermen has solidified their backcourt that already has the ever steady Olsen Racela, comebacking Mike Cortez and revelation Jonas Villanueva, himself a former FEU stalwart.
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