CHICAGO - Kyt Jimenez is torn between loyalty and pursuit of happiness.
Although he's no longer in the team roster and not even required to join practices, Jimenez is still contractually tied with San Miguel Beer as an unrestricted free agent with rights to salary.
Well aware that he's not seeing action in the ongoing Commissioner's Cup, the Zamboanga Valientes offered the flamboyant guard the opportunity to actually play in the upcoming Dubai International Championships next month.
And that's where the road forks.
READ Kyt Jimenez verbally agrees to play for Valientes in Dubai
Gratitude to San Miguel, which picked him 76th overall in the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft, is holding Jimenez back. There's also the matter of an existing contract that pays him P90,000 a month through December 31, 2025.
But hoopers want to hoop. The mere thought of having a stage to showcase the skills that catapulted him from the MPBL to the PBA is exhilarating.
NO PROMISES BUT SUCH IS LIFE.
Of course, there's no guarantee how the 27-year old all-purpose guard will turn out against international competition. But just being in uniform and getting the opportunity to lace up his sneakers beats the idea of just sitting around and waiting for his contract to expire.
And in so far as lost wages are concerned, there will be none. In fact, Jimenez will make more cash if he takes his talents to Zamboanga.
Per multiple sources, the Valientes, who will see action in three international tournaments in 2025, have tendered a one-year P170,000 a month offer to Jimenez.
Zamboanga's P2.04 million package almost doubles the P1.08 million that Jimenez will make with the Beerrmen throughout 2025.
Fly away, Kyt, soar into uncommon skies and embrace the possibilities.
As for San Miguel, well, the idea of having a player leave its rich, powerful confines might represent a prick on its massive pride. But getting freed from having to pay Jimenez P90.000 a month through December for doing absolutely nothing sounds like a smart business decision.
HK EASTERN IS GOING SOUTH.
It's time to put the comparisons to bed. Hong Hong Eastern is a poor imitation of the Bay Area Dragons. Never should both teams be mentioned in the same breadth.
After a two-week holiday break, you'd think Eastern would look rested, reinvigorated. Instead, they were sloppy as that Christmas Eve ham that nobody wants to give a second thought as a decent leftover meal.
If Eastern is getting paid, a reasonable assumption, as a guest team, it sure isn't worth it if they keep up with this kind of clutter.
In an 89-83 loss to Meralco on Sunday, Eastern converted an eyesore-inducing 36.6 percent from the field ( 28-of-71) and an amateurish 23.8 percent from 3-point distance (5-of-21).
Kobe Lam is usually must-see TV, but not tonight when he went 5-of-18 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3 for a harmless 18 points. And Glen Yang is much better than the two points and two assists he showed in 19 minutes and 54 seconds of play.
The Bolts weren't exactly electrifying, either. They missed 51 of 81 shots and had to be saved by the 31 points and 14 rebounds from import Akil Mitchell.
After winning the Philippine Cup last season, Meralco has regressed and it looks like the magic and brilliant coaching of Nenad Vucenic can only take a barely average, middle-of-the-pack team so far.
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