PLAYING it by ear.
For PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial, there’s no need to revisit the newly implemented unrestricted free agent rule, for now.
Speaking in the recent online Philippine Sportswriters Association forum, Marcial said the rule that was set during the time of the late former league chairman Ely Capacio in 2014 will benefit players who want to suit up for other teams at the end of their contracts.
The PBA is open to changes, however.
“Tignan muna natin. Kung makakaapekto ng malaki sa liga, ire-revisit natin. As of now, okay naman. Wala namang problema,” Marcial said.
“Para sa mga players ito na dati, sinasabi ng mga fans, paano makakaalis iyan may rights lagi ang (mother) teams,” he added.
Big man Rodney Brondial and playmaker John Pinto have chosen to exercise their rights and leave Alaska and Meralco and instead sign with San Miguel Beer and Ginebra, respectively.
Brondial and Pinto declined their respective former teams’ two-year extension offers for three-year pacts with their new squads.
Terrafirma forward Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, another player who belonged to the talent-laden 2014 Draft Class led by Kings star Stanley Pringle, is the latest to test the free agent market.
Marcial admitted the rule also has a drawback.
“Ang disadvantage lang sa players, kung free agent muna ako, sugal mo iyon. Kung walang kumuha sayo, babalik ka doon (to your former team). Eh kung hindi ka na kunin?” Marcial posed. “Para sa mga players itong free agency na ito.”
The rule was also approved even with the possibility of players moving to sister teams, according to Marcial.
“Paano kapag sister team, sabi namin, free agency nga kaya puwedeng mamili kung saan,” he said. “Balewala iyong pagka-free agency mo kung may dapat kang hindi puntahan.”
