Japeth insists he's playing for RP team

MANILA, Philippines - Japeth Aguilar remained firm on his decision to play for Smart Gilas Pilipinas instead of signing up with Burger King, which made him the top pick in the recent PBA rookie draft.

He also stressed he’s ready to face the consequences of his action, including a lifetime ban from the PBA.

“I don’t know what’s the rule but if the PBA decides to ban me I can’t do anything about it,” said Aguilar in a press conference at the Kamayan-EDSA yesterday. “If I have to play in the national team forever, I would accept it.”

Saying he has made up his mind, the 22-year-old Aguilar said he wants to play for Smart Gilas where he believes he can hone his talent and skills and at the same time help the national team’s cause.

“It was really my intention to play for the national team ever since I flew back here after I graduated (from Western Kentucky),” he said.

However, Aguilar, who was accompanied by agent/manager Ronnie Nathanielsz and some relatives, said he has yet to talk with top officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas about his plans to play for the Rajko Toroman-mentored team.

“I would be the one to talk in his (Aguilar) behalf as a long-time friend of his father,” said Nathanielsz, a veteran sports analyst and newspaper columnist, referring to former Ginebra player Peter Aguilar.

As to the threat of the PBA ban on Aguilar, Nathanielsz said the league has no legal basis to impose it.

“The constitution and by-laws of the PBA very clearly state that the player who opts not to sign a contract with the team that drafted him would have to sit out the first year,” said Nathanielsz.

“After the first year it goes back to the same thing that if the two parties don’t come to terms, he’ll sit out the second year and only in the third year he becomes a free agent.

“There is no rule in the PBA that they can say they can ban you and even the bill of rights protects individual right to freedom of choice and this is his choice. And his choice is he wants to play for the country,” Nathanielsz said.

Aguilar said he would respect the PBA’s decision if it eventually decides to ban him.

Nathanielsz further explained that every player has the right whether or not to play for the team that drafted him.

“You draft a player and he decides not to play for you. A PBA team drafts a player and the team doesn’t sign him. What’s the difference,” said Nathanielsz.

“Just because he’s No. 1, they’ll do this. The law is the same for No. 1 and No. 10 pick, it’s the same for everybody unless you tell me there’s one rule for the rich and there’s another one for the poor,” he added.

Aguilar also apologized to former RP team coach Yeng Guiao and thanked him for the things he learned while suiting up for the PBA-backed RP squad.

“I’ll probably say sorry and I want to thank him for all the things he’s done to me,” he said.