FORMER NLEX veteran big man JR Quiñahan has paid a dear price for suiting in unsanctioned leagues.
Last Saturday, the Road Warriors terminated the rest of Quiñahan’s contract, with the cager, based on his monthly maximum salary of P420,000, is set to lose P3.3 million.
“Following a thorough investigation, it was found that Quiñahan had committed several infractions of his Uniform Players’ Contract, including, among others, playing in unsanctioned games without seeking clearance from NLEX management and the Philippine Basketball Association,” NLEX said in a statement.
“Quiñahan is now a free agent and may sign with any PBA team. The NLEX Road Warriors thank Quiñahan for his services to the team and wish him luck in his future endeavors.”
Quiñahan, 38, was also slapped with a total of P70,000 fine by the PBA for playing in a “ligang-labas” exhibition game two weeks ago and getting involved in a brawl.
The pro league has a rule prohibiting players from showing their wares in an unsanctioned game or “ligang-labas” event unless they were allowed by their mother teams.
The 6-foot-6 Quiñahan, along with Rain or Shine center Beau Belga and guard Jio Jalalon of Magnolia beefed up a Nortball five that battled an import-laden Sirius Star squad that was composed of streetballers from the United States in an exhibition game at the Carmen Municipal Gym.
Quiñahan got into a first fight with one foreign player and Belga retaliated by throwing the ball at the opposing player.
He did not see action in last season’s Commissioner’s and Governors’ Cups due to a surgery on his injured foot.
The PBA cracked the whip on erring cagers moonlighting in “ligang-labas.”
Ten players were slapped with fines totaling P590,000 last Wednesday after pro league chief Willie Marcial met with most of the personalities involved in unsanctioned leagues.
Jalalon, Belga, and Quiñahan were among the players who suffered most of the repercussions for their ill-advised involvement in meets outside Asia’s first play-for-pay league.
Jalalon was hit the hardest with a penalty amounting to P100,000 since he was a repeat offender, having been caught and punished for the same violation in 2020. He was already suspended 15 days without pay by the Hotshots.
