THE PBA has taken on a new look and teams must adapt or else be crushed under the heels of the changing times.
Outspoken coach Yeng Guiao voiced out what is now fast becoming the norm in the 46-year-old league, maintaining the PBA must adjust to the new weapons now at the disposal of the players in furthering their own “business” interests.
Guiao was referring to players using as main bargaining chip the lure of far more lucrative offers from abroad in contract negotiations with their mother teams.
“I think that’s now part of the landscape. That is a new development that we have to adjust to,” NLEX’s chief strategist told Malaya-Business Insight.
“Hindi mo puwedeng sabihin na disloyal or lack of interest to play for the PBA or their mother team. It’s a business strategy,” added Guiao.
He was, of course, reacting to reports that NorthPort’s Robert Bolick and Greg Slaughter, whose contracts expired last Jan. 31, have spurned management’s offers that would have given them their usual maximum monthly salaries.
Sources have previously claimed that Bolick and Slaughter have received offers to play abroad and have used this as leverage in trying to get more than the P420,000 maximum monthly pay the league allows.
Leagues in Japan, Korea and Taiwan reportedly pay a minimum average of $15,000 a month, having drawn the likes of Kiefer and Thirdy Ravena, Kobe Paras, Dwight Ramos and Jordan Heading, among others.
Commissioner Willie Marcial has stressed there are rules covering restricted free agents like Bolick and Slaughter, as well as fellow holdout Nico Elorde and Terrafirma’s Roosevelt Adams.
“Kapag tapos na kontrata mo, puwede kang mag-entertain ng ibang offers pero mother team, may rights pa rin sa iyo,” Marcial said.
“So pag hindi nagkasundo, five years sila, two years and then three years,” added Marcial.
“Two years pu’wede kang bumalik. Kapag wala pa ring kasunduan, wala ka uli ng three more years.”
Marcial is just hoping that PBA players who would opt to play abroad would find their decision worth it before finding their way back home.
“Sana wala silang injury, mga ganoon,” said Marcial. “Sana maging successful sila doon.”Guiao said it’s routine for anybody to use whatever advantage he or she can in any bargaining situation.
“It’s part of the business, it’s part of the negotiations. It’s normal for them to use whatever leverage that they can have. Actually, it’s for their self-interest, interest of their agents.
Siyempre, they will maximize the opportunity,” said the seven-time champion coach.
“Alam nila (players) iyan. Kung walang ganyan ‘di hindi nila magagamit. Pero kung may ganyan normal na you will use everything to leverage your position.”
