The retooled Purefoods and the Japeth Aguilar-less Burger King take the spotlight in the opening of PBA’s 35th season on Sunday when they clash in the lone game at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Giants and the Whopper clash at 6:30 p.m. right after the traditional parade of teams and a simple opening ceremony.

A tribute will be held for the late PBA chairman Tony Chua of Barako Bull who perished at the height of typhoon “Ondoy” last week.

Burger King will go into the season- opening conference without star forward Arwind Santos and Aguilar, who was the team’s No. 1 overall pick in the last drafting.

The 6-foot-10 Aguilar was in the center of a controversy when he declined to sign a contract with Burger King.

He was reportedly offered the maximum rookie contract of P8.7 million spread over three years, but the 22-year-old Aguilar turned down the offer, thus becoming the first player who was picked in the draft to refuse a chance to play in the PBA.

Aguilar, however, is not coming out empty-handed from his change of heart.

In a move that surprised many, Aguilar opted to play for Smart-Gilas – a team being groomed to become the future Philippine team by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.

BK management led by PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, however, remains hopeful that Aguilar would change his mind. If he does not, Alvarez has threatened to ban the player from the PBA forever.

Also hanging over the head of Aguilar is the possibility that he may also be banned by the PBA from playing with Gilas when this team sees action in the coming conference.

On the other hand, there was nothing controversial about the transfer of the 6-foot-4 Santos to San Miguel Beer during the off season. San Miguel did not cede any player for Santos but insiders say there might be cash involved which usually is the case when PBA teams trade top players in exchange for future picks.

The Whopper, however, will not be without new players. These are Ronjay Buenafe and Chico Lanete who will join mainstays Wynne Arboleda, Gary David, Aaron Aban, Erick Rodriguez, JR Quinahan, and Mark Yee in the main rotation.

Purefoods, on the other hand, welcomes the return of Marc Pingris and Paul Artadi – who were with the team when it last won a PBA championship in 2006 – as well as the addition of veteran forward Rafi Reavis and rookie Rico Maierhofer.