DEFY the PBA for a coveted overseas stint or abide by the rules?
Those are the burning questions gnawing at NLEX star guard Kiefer Ravena as he plots his next move.
Shiga Lakestars, which signed Ravena last week to suit up as an Asian import in the Japan B. League, has postponed a press conference set today with Ravena due to “current issues” in Ravena’s contract with the Road Warriors.
“We have decided to postpone the press conference for Kiefer Ravena, which was scheduled to be held on Monday, June 7, on the club’s official Youtube channel,” Shiga Lakestars said in a statement yesterday.
“On June 2nd we had an official announcement of signing Kiefer Ravena for the 2021-2022 season. However, after the announcement, it was reported in the Philippines that there are issues in his current contract.”
The PBA has thumbed down Ravena’s plan to follow the path taken by younger brother Thirdy, saying Kiefer, 27, cannot play in Japan and must honor the three-year pact he inked with NLEX last year.
“The PBA board had decided that Kiefer has to honor his contract with NLEX and with the PBA. The philosophy is basically the sanctity of the contract,” said pro league chairman Ricky Vargas during a press conference last Saturday.
“Breaking a contract is going to be difficult for us to manage moving forward.”
The PBA has also sent a letter to the B. League explaining its position on the situation.
“We will communicate to the B. League, not to the team. And we’ll inform them about the decision of the (PBA) Board from a FIBA standpoint,” Vargas said.
“The FIBA holds the contracts of each player sacrosanct as well. And that is also their point of view.”
Commissioner Willie Marcial, who joined Vargas and vice chairman Bobby Rosales in the press conference, said the league understood the clamor of the fans to let Ravena play in Japan but maintained rules are not made to be broken.
“Gusto nila (fans). Gusto din namin. Pero may kontrata tayong sinusunod,” Marcial said.
“May kontrata tayong sinusunod. Hindi natin puwedeng palagpasin iyon.”
Shiga Lakestars said it will try to fix Ravena’s contractual issues.
“We have decided to postpone the press conference until a more appropriate time, as holding a press conference with Ravena and us at this time may add more confusion to the situation,” the team said. “We will continue discussions to resolve these issues.”
