How much do you love your country? It's worth P18.6-million

WHEN money talks, everybody listens.

Especially, when it’s worth a whopping P18.6-million for three years.

No wonder, Japeth Aguilar turned down a promising and possibly a fruitful career in the Philippine Basketball Association and instead decided to bring his act to the Smart-Gilas basketball team backed by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and bankrolled by businessman/sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan.

A highly placed source told VFTPR that the 6’9” former Western Kentucky University player was offered a whopping three-year contract by the team handled by Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

Toroman was the former coach of Iran when the team won its first ever FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball crown.

The same source said Aguilar is set to get P350,000 in his first year, P500,000 in his second and P700,000 in his final year with Smart Gilas, more than doubling the P8.7 million Burger King, the PBA team which drafted the 22-year-old cager, offered him.

The Whopper’s offer, which was the maximum salary allowed for a rookie, was rejected by Aguilar’s camp.

Not long ago, Aguilar, who played both for the Smart-Gilas team and the all-pro Powerade-Pilipinas men’s basketball team in the FIBA Asia Championship and William Jones Cup this year, was so excited to join the draft.

He applied for the PBA Draft and issued his intent to enter the pro league during the Powerade Team Pilipinas’ campaign in the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in Tianjin.

But what the sudden change of heart remained as a big puzzle for PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

“It remains a mystery to me,” said Barrios during the PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Ave., Tuesday.

Barrios said that Aguilar’s camp may be right in saying that they don’t have a commitment in the PBA as well as Burger King as they didn’t sign a contract. But the official said that there are things to be considered more than just the rules and regulations of the pro league.

“I don’t think the issue should simply just focus on the rules and regulations or whether Aguilar has a commitment with the PBA or Burger King. It’s how you do things with a sense of propriety,” added Barrios.

“It’s about being fair – to the PBA and the team which picked him up. The thing is, the case is more sensitive because he is the top overall rookie pick and that a team is building its future around him.”
Barrios also disclosed that the PBA gave Aguilar the needed assistance to fulfill his dream of turning pro and treated him like a rock star.

“We are talking here of a six-figure allowance that was even bigger than the contracts of many players in the PBA,” said Barrios. “He was given perks that other members of the Powerade Team Pilipinas did not enjoy.”