JAPETH wants OUT of PBA ‘We have decided to play for RP 5’

[batigol192002]

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- nahug man gud nga na-hostage ang TEAM. kay kung ni-back-out pa unta cya before sa draft at least makakuha pag laing-player. Ang PBA ilang sad nang protiktaran ilang interest..

[digitalsuperman]

naa gyud nuon sayup si japeth...but the thing is.. malipay pud ta kay he has the commitment to play for the country and also SBP dili man sad siya pasagdan, he will be duely paid. but the sad thing is murag walay palabra de honor si japeth sa BK. pero ang akong kalibugan kay wala paman sad siya nakapirma ug kontrata... for BK side, doesn't mean they drafted him, it means nga ilaha na gyud na nga player.. sayup pud nila nganong nangtrade sila nga wala paman diay nila na sign si japeth...

[digitalsuperman]

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=501258&publicationSubCategoryId=69

The uproar over Japeth Aguilar’s reported refusal to play in the PBA after he applied for the draft and was picked first overall by Burger King is understandable. It’s like the 22-year-old wunderkind took the 34-year-old PBA for a ride, basked in the glory of becoming the league’s first overall draft choice and now is declaring free agency.

You can’t blame the PBA for crying foul. Aguilar hogged the spotlight in the recent PBA draft and nearly wept when commissioner Sonny Barrios officially declared him the year’s top overall pick. A dream come true was how Aguilar described his ascension to the pro ranks.

But Aguilar has since changed his tune. He’s been offered the maximum three-year contract by Burger King, leaving no room for negotiation, and the former Western Kentucky reserve center isn’t signing.

Under PBA rules, a drafted player who doesn’t come to terms with the team that has his rights will sit out a year. He will sit out another year if he still fails to reach an agreement with the same team. On the third year, he will be allowed to reenlist in the draft. The consolation of the team that held his rights is he will not have played for any other team for two years.

In Aguilar’s case, the PBA is considering a lifetime ban or at least a severe penalty. The rules don’t stipulate such a penalty but Barrios has the discretion to lower the boom on Aguilar for reneging on his commitment to play in the PBA.

“The PBA rules allowing for a two-year sit-out do not apply to Japeth because this is not a case of negotiation since he has been offered the maximum terms,” said a PBA insider. “We never forced Japeth to apply for the draft but he did. With his application comes a commitment to play. He was drafted first overall, an honor for any player, and for Japeth to now refuse to play in the PBA is a slap on the face of a league that is an institution.”

Some PBA Board members chastised Aguilar for making a mockery of the league because of his turnaround.

However, is Aguilar really to blame? Remember, he’s just a kid. His father Peter, a former PBA cager, is in Chicago and unable to appreciate the circumstances surrounding the case.

* * * *

When Aguilar joined the Smart-Gilas tryouts in Las Vegas last summer, he gained the vote of confidence from Serbian coach Rajko Toroman who described him as the country’s best big man prospect by far. Aguilar subsequently told Toroman he wanted to play for Smart-Gilas and would delay his application for the PBA draft.

Toroman said Aguilar hardly saw action for Western Kentucky the last two years and the 6-9 prospect needed to gain more court experience before entering the pros.

Then, Aguilar arrived in Manila and was surrounded by advisers who promised the PBA they would deliver the kid to the league. The advisers swore they meant well and only had Aguilar’s best interests in mind.

To warm up Aguilar for the PBA, national coach Yeng Guiao brought him to Taipei to play for the Powerade squad at the Jones Cup. Aguilar later joined the national team in Tianjin for the FIBA-Asia Championships.

It was during the Tianjin tournament that reality dawned on Aguilar. His eyes were opened to the bottom line that he’s not ready to go to war in the pros. Because of his lack of competitive exposure, Aguilar would be easy prey for the likes of Jay-R Reyes, Kerby Raymundo, Sonny Thoss, Asi Taulava and even a hardened rookie like Rico Maierhofer in the PBA.

Aguilar must have realized he listened to the wrong advisers. He was clearly misled. In Las Vegas, it seemed certain he would join Smart-Gilas and postpone his entry into the PBA. But shortly after he landed in Manila and spoke with his “well-meaning” advisers, he changed his mind.

If Aguilar had maliciously and deviously plotted to snub the PBA, then maybe he deserves a lifetime ban. But it’s evident that he never meant to malign the PBA. He was misled into thinking he was ready for the pros by advisers who like to present themselves as righteous and sincere. Surely, the PBA can’t be harsh on a kid who made a serious mistake in finding his basketball career path. Instead of detractors ganging up on Aguilar, his advisers should be lined up against the wall in front of a firing squad.

* * * *

Aguilar has a tremendous upside and will someday be a dominant force in the PBA but not right now. In two or three years, he will be ready for the PBA and be a valuable asset. At the moment, Aguilar is better off learning the ropes from Toroman and playing for Smart-Gilas. In the end, the PBA will benefit from this maturing process.

If Aguilar is forced to play in the PBA and doesn’t impress, the effect will be damaging to his career. Of course, he may prove this theory wrong by dominating as a rookie but that’s not likely.

Meanwhile, there is the matter of compensating Burger King which has Aguilar’s signing rights in the PBA. Perhaps, to ease the pain of his withdrawal, Burger King could be compensated by a team that’s willing to take a chance on Aguilar as a future project. That way, Burger King doesn’t walk away empty-handed unless the Whoppers choose to keep his rights and wait for further developments.

If Aguilar is convinced he isn’t ready for the PBA and would like more court experience with Smart-Gilas, the humane thing to do is to let the kid do his thing. He shouldn’t be branded for life but encouraged to learn from this mistake. He should also be more discerning in listening to advisers who pretend to be well-meaning.

By the way, a similar case involved Danny Ferry in the 1989 NBA draft. He was picked second overall by the Los Angeles Clippers but refused to play for the team. Ferry spurned the Clippers and played a season in the Italian league. The Clippers soon gave up on Ferry and traded his rights to the Cleveland Cavs who signed the center a year later.

Note that the NBA didn’t slap a lifetime ban on Ferry even if the former Duke star applied for the draft and was actually picked.

In Aguilar’s case, maybe Talk ‘N’ Talk could trade for his rights. Because of common ownership with Smart-Gilas, the Tropang Texters may choose to sit out Aguilar and allow him to play for Toroman. This way, Burger King is compensated via the trade, Aguilar gets his wish to gain more court experience outside the PBA, Smart-Gilas is reinforced by a major recruit and the PBA still keeps Aguilar in its rolls through Talk ‘N’ Text.

[batigol192002]

smart-gilas/Talk 'N' Text? basin gilutong makaw ni nila?

[inc-pankz]

Burgerking and TNT ky ang mga tag iya ana ky Top Officials sa PBA.

[ianoafer]

hahaha
suko-a sa burger king,,
ipa-lifetime ban nila si Japeth sa PBa
hahahaha

[ianoafer]

smart-gilas/Talk 'N' Text? basin gilutong makaw ni nila?

posible jud na in-ana ni brad
hahaha

[.bullet.]

knowing the rules, japeth aguilar should play in the PBA and suit up for the national team. he's still so young, a lot of national team opportunities would come his way. as of the moment, he should prove his worth in the PBA.

[inc-pankz]

hahaha
suko-a sa burger king,,
ipa-lifetime ban nila si Japeth sa PBa
hahahaha

they cant ban a player if dle nahan mo duwa sa ilang team ! ! sit out ug 1yr.kung dle nahan mo duwa. until mo abot ug 3yrs pde sya mka pangeta ug laen team.

[digitalsuperman]

http://sports.inquirer.net/columns/columns/view/20090908-224310/In-defense-of-Japeth

In defense of Japeth
By: Tommy Manotoc

THE RESPONSE TO THE ARTICLE “Go, Japeth, Go” went way beyond expectations.

Obviously, the article hit a nerve. The article allowed me to communicate with people I have never met but who believed in what I wrote about. This is what makes me want to reach out to people and articulate what’s on their mind.

With their permission, I’d like to share with you two of the responses that I received via e-mail:

* * *

“I am writing from Chicago where I have been lucky enough to have seen Japs (Japeth) grow. He was a gangly uber-shy beanpole when I first met him almost five years ago.

“I have become close to the family, specially (his dad) Peter and (mom) Josie, with whom I attend Bible studies every other Sunday. This much I can say: Peter is just like any other caring father, myself included, who always has the best intentions and efforts to protect his son.

“Theirs is a God-fearing, devout Christian family that will never say anything bad about other people—no matter what. God is the center of their lives and universe and they always look to him for further guidance.

“It pains both Peter and Josie to hear of ‘bad press’ about their son. Or worse, whenever people they have entrusted their growing son to—in their physical absence—seem to take advantage of their son’s own naiveté.

“Japs is still the same shy soft-spoken individual who left Ateneo in an equally controversial move to be reunited with family and somehow have a better chance to chase an impossible dream.

“He has never been cocky nor self-centered. He values his love for his God, country and family as premiere drivers for his goals.

“Theirs is a very simple family life. No ostentatious displays, just happiest being together. Thus, why should he force himself into a situation he knows he will never be happy.

“The boy is not onion-skinned like some of you claim, this is more a factor of his innocence to the corrupt world that’s out there. He is happiest with a basketball in his hand, devising new dunks and moves. He is happiest when his family is happy.

“It pains me to think how people in high places can treat simple folks with utter disregard of human feelings.

“Mr. Manotoc was quite accurate in his observations and I am one with him in saying, Go, Japs, Go!!!”

—Roel Ramirez

* * *

“With regard to your article today in the Philippine Daily Inquirer wherein you wrote and I quote:

“The top teams, led by the San Miguel conglomerate, seem to be able to get whatever they want.

“Mr. Manotoc, I am an avid and die-hard fan of local basketball leagues dating back to the prestigious MICAA of yesteryear where I watched the likes of Carlos Loyzaga, Nano Tolentino, Carlos Badion, Loreto Carbonel, Tony Genato, Narciso Bernardo, Ed Ocampo, and the best of the best who belonged to the Golden Years of Philippine basketball.

“My love for the game spilled over to the Philippine Basketball Association when the MICAA bowed out. But it waned when, in 1989, a rookie won the MVP and Rookie of the Year awards and set a record of sorts.

“The last nail on the coffin came when this anomaly happened: One corporation owned four PBA teams.

“Yes, San Miguel Corp owned San Miguel Beer, Ginebra San Miguel, Purefoods and Coca-Cola (before it was recovered by Coca-Cola Bottling Corp. of the Philippines).

“Ever since, I only get to watch the PBA when non-Cojuangco teams are fighting for the championship.”

—Manuel Mabini Gappe (mikaelgab@yahoo.com)

* * *

Thank you to all the people who texted, wrote, e-mailed and personally called.

Send comments to tommymanotoc@yahoo.com.ph