MANILA - PBA Commissioner Renault “Sonny” Barrios on Tuesday said Japeth Aguilar could have avoided the problems that have cropped up as a result of his decision to back out of Asia’s first play-for-pay league.

“Hindi naman masamang magpalit ng isip. Pero siguro there are better ways, proper ways of doing things,” said Barrios during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriter’s Association press forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue Branch in Manila.

The PBA commissioner said Japeth should have at least given him the courtesy of clarifying the issue.

“Kasi tayong Pilipino, may mga tamang pagkilos ng maayos. Hindi naman sa nagpapa-importante ako, pero siguro maganda ring nakausap ko rin si Japeth about his plans to change his mind,” said Barrios.

He added that even Team Pilipinas Yeng Guiao could not reach Japeth for a personal talk.

Barrios said that the league has been treating Japeth well since he returned to the Philippines to join Powerade-Team Pilipinas.

Unlike the other members of the RP Basketball Team, Japeth does not yet have a mother team that is shouldering his expenses during his stay in the Philippines.

It was the PBA who took care of his needs, including his transportation expenses, to make sure that he can concentrate fully on playing for the national team.

"'Yung pagtrato ng PBA at ng team sa kanya, tingin ko naman nasa maayos," said Barrios.

Informal talk

Barrios said he had an informal meeting with Japeth late last week about the latter’s decision not to sign with Burger King, which had acquired the 6'9" cager through the PBA draft.

He said Japeth was accompanied during the meeting by his agent and sports newsman Ronnie Nathanielsz.

“I think, he (Japeth) only spoke something like four words…and 99.9 percent of the talk was between me and Mr. Nathanielsz,” said Barrios.

“But Japeth is an adult. He turned 22 this January, so in a few months he’ll be 23… how I wish I could sit down with him man-to-man and find out exactly what’s in his heart,” he added.

Jepeth left for the US Monday night to meet and consult his father, former PBA player Peter Aguilar, on his latest move.

Barrios said he could see that Japeth’s camp carefully studied the PBA rules.

According to league regulations, if the player and the team do not reach an agreement, they could approach the commission for mediation. If the draftee still refuses to enter into a contract with the drafting team, and the commissioner finds that the reason is unreasonable, amounting to refusal to negotiate, the draftee can sit it out for two years.

“It’s safe to assume doon na nila tinitignan papunta ang sitwasyon,” said Barrios.

The PBA commissioner was scheduled to meet with the league’s board later on Tuesday to study their options.

“Whether there are other decisions that will be made regarding this case, they are something that we will study and will discuss with the PBA board,” he said.