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    Top Makati Super Crunch players explain decision not to join MPBL bubble

    Makati players explain decision not to join MPBL bubble
    Mar 11, 2021
    PHOTO: MPBL

    THE decision of the core of the Makati Super Crunch not to see action in the MPBL bubble was the culmination of a chain of events that soured the relationship between the players and team owner Paolo Orbeta, according to two former team members.

    In an interview with Mikee Reyes in his Breaking vlog, a few of the players took exception to the impression that they abandoned the team in a crucial time.

    As expected, San Juan won the knockout game for a place in the MPBL finals, with the Makati squad of only five players suffering a 77-point demolition.

    The players said the issue stemmed from management still owing them their salaries from March 16 to 31 and the entire April of last year as stated in their contract, even though no games were played during that period because of the pandemic.

    The players said they were told that the team is short in funding because Super Crunch decided it will no longer sponsor the team. But it was later found out that Super Crunch was still sponsoring the team, contrary to claims of management, according to several players.

    “Ang sabi niya sa amin, nag-stop na ang sponsor,” said Jeckster Apinan, one of the veterans of the team, referring to Makati team manager Vince Garcia. “Sabi namin kay Vince, baka puwede namang makausap si sponsor, baka sakaling maawa siya sa amin. Wala kaming intensyong lumapit doon. Ang sabi ni Vince Garcia sa amin, why not. Baka makatulong kayo sa problema natin ngayon dahil nag-stop na raw si sponsor.”

    “Lumapit kami sa sponsor, nagsabi kami… Nagulat kami sa sitwasyon kasi sinabihan kami na hindi sila nag-stop hanggang sa matapos ang kontrata. Doon na kami na-alarma na niloloko kami ng management. Hindi lang kami, pati sa sponsor,” said Apinan.

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    Apinan said their move to approach their sponsor angered Orbeta.

    “Sa akin lang ‘to, wala siyang puso. Wala siyang awa sa amin kasi galit na galit siya sa amin dahil nabisto siguro ‘yung mga pinagagagawa niya. Hindi naman namin kasalanan ‘yun. Wala kaming intensyon na siraan siya. Wala kaming intensyon na imbestigahan siya. Tumulong lang kami para maayos ‘yung team. Hanggang sa dumating sa sitwasyon na nagagalit na siya sa amin. Parang sinasabi niya na ako ang may pakana,” Apinan said.

    Despite an MPBL memo stating that teams must give at least 20 percent of the salary during the pandemic, the players claimed that management also didn’t comply, with Orbeta also telling them that he is no longer in control of the team due to a change in ownership.

    “Ang sabi ko sa kanya (Orbeta), nagsabi si boss Vince Garcia na sabi mo daw, ibigay ‘yung March 16 to 31 na sahod. Isa lang ang sinabi sa akin. Sabi niya sa akin, ‘Jeckster, ano ba ang ginawa natin nung March 16 to 31?’ Ang iniisip namin, no-work, no-pay. Hanggang sa dumating ‘yung memo na MPBL, 20 percent, wala pa rin. Kahit pakamusta sa mga players, ano na nangyayari sa inyo, kahit bigyan kami ng isang kilong bigas, wala talaga. Kami ang nagmamakaawa na bigyan kami ng pansin,” said Apinan.

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    The group, despite the past issues, still agreed to meet with Orbeta when the MPBL bubble was about to take place to discuss arrangements for the resumption of the season. But negotiations bogged down when Orbeta’s offer was one month for the ex-pros while the rest will only give 15-day deals.

    “Pantay pantay dapat kami ng matatanggap,” said Juneric Baloria, another Makati ex-pro. “Hindi puwede ‘yun. Kaming mga players nagpakahirap. Para kang nanlalamang. Hindi naman sa ano, pero parehas kaming tinamaan ng pandemic.”

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    Baloria said he even told Orbeta that they will let bygones be bygones as long as they will be able to receive their salary, only to find out days before the bubble that Makati doesn’t have enough funds to bankroll their participation in the bubble.

    Baloria said their group had every intention to play in the bubble.

    “Sinabi ko sa kanya, ‘Boss, isang taon kaming walang natanggap. Alam mo naman na masama ang loob namin sa inyo.’ Pero ang masasabi ko lang, ibibigay niyo lang ang nararapat, lalaro kaming lahat, mawawala na ‘yung sama ng loob na ‘yan. Gusto ko pumunta tayo ng bubble kaming mga player buo, kayong management buo. Napakaganda ng sabi ko. Hindi naman siguro sasama loob niya. Tapos bumalik na parang kami pa raw ang ghosting,” said Baloria.

    The players lamented Orbeta's not being transparent enough from the beginning.

    “Sobrang maiksi na ‘yung panahon, saka lang sasabihin na walang pera. Kung pinrangka na kami na wala kaming pera, puwede naman niyang sabihing ganun, tatanggapin namin ‘yan kahit limang araw na sahod para makapaglaro lang,” said Baloria.

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    Apinan added: “Pinapaikot ikot niya kami. May sinasabi pa siya na nabenta na daw ‘yung franchise niya kaya ganyan ang offer. Hindi siya nagiging totoong tao sa amin kaya kami talaga umaalarma sa kanya.”

    Orbeta has responded to the issue in a lengthy post on Facebook, denying that he was not transparent with his players. He also said he made a tough decision to enforce the 'force majeure' clause in their contracts due to the pandemic.

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