SOME PBA players, should they choose to, can now exercise the power to look for greener pastures elsewhere in the immediate future.
In what is a historic event for the 46-year-old league, those who have played at least seven seasons by the end of the current 2021-22 season automatically become unrestricted free agents.
That directly involves those who were picked in the PBA rookie draft of 2014 that was bannered by Stanley Pringle and Kevin Alas.
The rule was among those drafted when Purefoods was acquired by San Miguel Corp. prior to the 2001 season and its implementation after the coming Governors Cup would surely benefit the affected players.
“Kasi kung ayaw na nila sa current team nila, for whatever reason, then they could choose another team na they feel mas suited sa kanila,” said a league insider.
Previously, a player becomes a UFA if he and his team do not come to terms after the player’s contract has expired and the team gives up its right of first refusal on the player.
The only clause that remains from the old rule is that this forthcoming one carries with it a 30-day period in which the player and his mother team must come to terms anew or the player becomes a UFA.
According to a list provided by the PBA, to be affected by the rule are Pringle, Alas, Chris Banchero, Rodney Brondial, Prince Caperal, Jericho Cruz, Rome dela Rosa, Brian Heruela, Jake Pascual, Kyle Pascual, John Pinto, Stanley Pringle, Matt Rosser, David Semerad, Anthony Semerad, Raul Soyud, Paolo Taha and Juami Tiongson.
Alas, Pringle, Anthony Semerad, Soyud and Tiongson have all been resigned, with the rest to follow suit either on or immediately after the Governors Cup.
Jackson Corpuz, Michael Gamboa, Kenneth Ighalo and Philip Paniamogan were also all drafted in 2014, but would remain under the Restricted Free Agent list after this season due to insufficient number of years played in the PBA.
