CHICAGO - I was told 45 minutes before today’s 11 a.m. official announcement that Mike Phillips has signed with a Japan B.League team.
In a competitive business where breaking news is top currency, it was so hard to sit on such a ginormous story.
But there it was, “Motor Mike” is now a member of Kyoto Hannaryz after inking a guaranteed two-year deal.
READ Mike Phillips signs two-year deal with B.League's Kyoto Hannaryz
Financial terms were not disclosed but a FIBA -registered agent with clients in Japan told me that Mike’s pay is $20,000 a month or P1.2 million.
Which means the total guaranteed value of the contract is P29.2 million.
NO BRAINER.
Had the former La Salle ace entered the Season 51 PBA Rookie Draft and picked No. 1 overall, his max pay would only be P420,000 a month.
This wasn’t a leap of faith. This was jumping on the opportunity to maximize earning potential as just reward for a life’s work of tireless labor and sacrifice.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mike’s brother and manager, Ben Phillips, gave me this statement.
“Mike is happy and grateful for the blessing to play in Japan. Any step forward he can take to improve his game in order to serve more effectively for Gilas and our country is a priority,”
Understandably so, not everyone is enthused, including the PBA which lost a gem.
But the disparity in salary, the embrace of international play and the level of competition makes it hard to stop the talent drain.
GUARD RAILS.
I also sympathize with Mike’s former MPBL team, the San Juan Knights, who felt abandoned, their title hopes vanishing in a polite, carefully worded e-mail.
But maybe next time, when dealing with star acquisitions, they should impose a buyout clause instead of agreeing to an opt-out clause.
Asked if the PBA remains an option for the power forward, who’s only 24 years young, his camp had a one-word response.
“ Always.”
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