EVERY PBA player wants to get the scrimmages going, none more so than the rookies.
Only those who suited up in last year’s Philippine Cup bubble have had a taste of PBA action since the coronavirus outbreak turned into a pandemic, but the incoming players have more reason to be impatient.
That’s understandable because only when the 5-on-5 practices begin does those paychecks start being made out for majority of the newbies.
The same is true even of free agents, whose contracts with their former teams have expired. They may have been picked up by other squads but they cannot hope to receive any monetary compensation unless they at least get to the practice court with their new mates.
“Di pa pumapatak metro nila,” a long-time player-agent pointed out to Malaya-Business Insight. “Kapag nag-umpisa na 5-on-5, saka lang sila officially magiging part ng team so hangga’t wala pa nu’n, wala pa rin suweldo nila. Kahit nakapirma na sila ng kontrata ganu’n pa rin.”
That practice has long been the norm in the league, made seemingly interminable this time by the restrictions enforced by the government due to the pandemic, putting all PBA activities on hold.
Even PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial acknowledged he is powerless to change such an unwritten rule among the ballclubs, the main reason he, too, would like nothing more than for scrimmages to start and, following a couple of weeks of 5-on-5s, for the season to kick off.
“Once na nag-umpisa scrimmages, lahat balik na sa normal,” said Marcial.
There are some, however, who are already cash-strapped, especially those who hail from the provinces and have to spend for their rent, meals and equipment necessary for their individual workouts within their temporary homes.
“Paigsi-na ng paigsi mga pisi,” said the agent.
Not everybody is so burdened, however.
“Minsan naman, may balita lang ako, ha, may nagbibigay ng allowance na team, minsan nag-a-advance ang player,” offered Marcial. “Pero iyon nga, minsan may dedma dahil nahihirapan na rin dito sa pandemic.”
The PBA took a big financial hit when it was only able to play two months of basketball since last year. Ditto for some companies owning PBA franchises, prompting the 45-year-old league to implement a 20 percent pay cut among the players, coaches and team managers.
