THE PBA Board has implemented a 20 percent pay cut for all the teams covering players, coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, and the Commissioner’s Office, a sacrifice that Commissioner Willie Marcial said is the pro league’s way of helping companies that suffered financial losses due to the pandemic.
Exempted from the pay cut are the members of the teams’ utility staff.
“It’s about time na kami naman magbigay ng kontribusyon sa mga teams, owners na sinuportahan kami for 16 months ng walang bawas suweldo,” Marcial said. “May mga kumpanya nagtatanggal dahil may mga contracts. may mga no work, no pay. Pero tayo swelduhan ng buo.”
Marcial also said the PBA has received an offer to hold its next tournament in Ilocos Norte, courtesy of Gov. Matthew Manotoc, be it in a semi-bubble or bubble format.
Marcial added the league is exerting all efforts to get vaccines so it could its 46th season going in about a month’s time.
“Ang direksyon ng PBA sa ngayon vaccine,” said Marcial, revealing what was mainly discussed by the teams’ representatives a day before.
“The vaccination of the entire PBA family will be the first order of the day,” stressed PBA vice-chairman Bobby Rosales in the same press briefing via Zoom.
“Because if the whole PBA family is vaccinated it might be easier for the government, through the IATF, to allow the season to open,” added the Terrafirma representative.
“Of course, we would still be awaiting the other guidelines the IATF will ask even if we are vaccinated. That’s why the Commissioner is scheduled to meet with the IATF by next week so that we can clarify what those guidelines are and if the government can expedite further the vaccination program of the PBA.”
Rosales also said the PBA family getting vaccinated is one way to avoid a bubble tournament like in last year’s Philippine Cup, although that remains an option.
“Bubble is still an option on the table. It’s very costly not only financially, but you also have to address the mental health inside the bubble,” Rosales said.
“If we want to resume or open the season at the soonest possible time, the vaccination of the PBA family will be the first order of the day.”
Marcial did not discount the possibility of the vaccines coming in earlier than expected and the PBA starting by next month.
But that possibility would be rarer than a desperate heave from the opposite end of the court going in as government officials expect the earliest doses of the vaccines ordered by the private sector like the PBA to start coming in by June at the earliest
“Posible pa rin sa May kung darating ng mga middle of the month ang vaccines,” said Marcial. “Basta May or June sana magkaroon na tayo ng vaccines. May kasamang dasal pa iyon.”
Marcial said his Commissioner’s Office will start deducting from the usual salaries next week and May for those from the teams.
“Oras mag-umpisa scrimmages ibabalik na ‘yung normal,” said Marcial. “Pero ‘yung nawala na 20 percent cut hindi na.”
