Japeth puts trust on Coach Yeng

TIANJIN – Japeth Aguilar, the No. 1 pick in the PBA Rookie Draft Sunday, puts his trust on coach Yeng Guiao, joining Powerade Team Pilipinas in their journey here though still without a contract with Burger King.

“I’m leaving everything to coach Yeng. I have faith in him,” Aguilar told The STAR.

“Japeth is commendable. He’s ready to take the risk here of getting injured even as he’s still without a contract in the PBA,” a member of the RP team observed.

Guiao has said Aguilar, being the top pick and with his great potential, deserves a maximum contract for at least three seasons.

For a PBA newcomer, a maximum pay for the first three years in the league is P8.55 million.

At home, that’s what third pick Chris Ross got in closing a deal with Coca-Cola yesterday.

Ross, MVP awardee in the last PBL tourney, is guaranteed of a monthly pay of P150,000 this coming season, P225,000 in the next and P337,000 in 2011.

Coca-Cola, which is on a rebuilding process, is also awaiting the result of negotiation between Nic Belasco and Talk n Text.

Should Belasco get a deal with Talk n Text, the Tigers will trade his rights to the Tropang Texters in exchange for Larry Rodriguez. – Nelson Beltran