Aguilar to seal P8.5 million three-year contract

MANILA, Philippines - Japeth Aguilar, the top draft pick who was a member of Powerade Team Pilipinas in the Tianjin FIBA Asia Championship, meets with Burger King officials today to formalize a three-year deal worth P8.55 million.

Aguilar is looking to complete the deal with BK then take a short rest before starting training with the Whoppers under coach Yeng Guiao.

“Hopefully, I’ll be allowed to take a rest before joining my PBA team. I’m planning to visit my girlfriend in the US,” Aguilar told The STAR.

“I don’t anticipate any problem because everything is in accordance with the PBA rules,” said BK top official Lito Alvarez.

Aguilar is to be given the maximum pay for a PBA newcomer — a monthly take of P150,000 in his rookie year, P225,000 in the second year and P337,500 in the third year.

Meanwhile, Gary David also of Burger King and Joseph Yeo of Sta. Lucia, both received P12.6 million in recent contract-extension deals with their respective ball clubs.

These recently closed transactions involved the maximum pay of P350,000 a month allowed by the league.

Alvarez said they earlier signed three-year pacts with David, Coca-Cola recruit Ronjay Buenafe and two other rookie acquisitions in Ronnie Matias and Orlando Daroya.

With Guiao in Tianjin, BK assistant coaches Junel Baculi and Johnny Tam ran the training of the Whoppers.

The team’s regular practice under Guiao starts Monday.

Alvarez hopes the team can contend for the championship after a new buildup centered on Aguilar.

Guiao, however, is saying they still have to polish Aguilar’s game.

There’s also some optimism in Coca-Cola camp with its acquisition of Chris Ross.

With head coach Kenneth Duremdes returning, the team will make a final assessment on aspirants Norman Gonzales and Mike Holper.

Other veteran players in search of a new team are Homer Se, Topex Robinson and Richard Yee. They were waived by their mother ball clubs.