THE PBA has seen too much.
Faced with player transfers to fledgling overseas leagues anew, the pro league’s board of governors has approved a new ruling—a three-year ban on cagers who refused to sign with their ball clubs despite a valid contract offer and opted to play for another league, local or foreign.
Ditto with rookies who dodge the Unified Players’ Contracts dangled by the PBA squads that drafted them and opt for another league.
The decisions got the nod during the last board meeting last July 17 and an official memo signed by Commissioner Willie Marcial was sent to all teams and players the following day.
Also covered by the new rule are players who refuse to renegotiate or re-sign with their mother quintet.
The ruling came on the heels of another exodus of PBA stars to overseas leagues –Northport’s Arvin Tolentino and Magnolia’s Will Navarro linked up with Korean Basketball League teams, and high-flying Ginebra forward Jamie Malonzo left the country’s most popular side for the Japan B.League.
The three players are reportedly covered by the ruling.
Tolentino, last season’s Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference, was signed by Seoul SK Knights last May while Malonzo joined the Kyoto Hannaryz of the B.League after his contract expired last July.
Navarro signed on the dotted line with the KCC Busan Egis just last Tuesday.
In the case of rookie draftees, the new ruling could cover Dave Ildefonso, who failed to reach a pact with the Batang Pier after an impasse last season.
Tabbed No. 5 overall, the son of former two-time MVP Danny Ildefonso opted to play for the Abra Weavers in the MPBL.
All freshmen who will be drafted in the coming Sept. 7 annual proceedings are also covered by the new rule.
At the same time, the player’s rights stay with the original franchise.
It includes players who are not offered a new contract by their mother team within the 30-day grace period from the expiration of their UPC, thereby making them outright unrestricted free agents.
The rule also covers players who became UFA under the seven-year free agency rule or a total of 21 conferences completed.
Whether this new ruling can be a boon or a bane remains to be seen.
