SADLY, Mark Nonoy's PBA debut will have to wait since the Iloilo United Royals of the MPBL isn't in a hurry to release the No. 10 overall pick of the last PBA Rookie Draft to Terrafirma.
Though already out of contention for a playoff berth in the ongoing MPBL season, management of Iloilo has shown no willingness to let go of Nonoy.
A source from the league bared the team may even suspend Nonoy and teammate CJ Catapusan for not attending practices and missing some of Iloilo’s games.
READ Dyip rookie Mark Nonoy still waiting for clearance from MBPL team
MPBL officials, sources said, are set to step in and talk to Iloilo management about the matter.
Meanwhile, Nonoy’s benefactor, former Basilan Steel general manager Jackson Chua, told SPIN.ph that Iloilo wants a buyout of the contract.
“Yun ang gusto ng Iloilo, bilhin ng Terrafirma yung remaining part ng contract ni Mark,” said Chua, owner of the Red Dynasty Chinese Restaurant. "Kaso halos eliminated naman na sila. So dapat may consideration na lang. Saka alam ko never nagkaroon ng relationship sa MPBL at PBA teams na magkakaroon ng buyout."
With no release or buyout, "kailangang maghintay ni Mark ng end of contract which is September 24 pa," added Chua. "Kawawa naman yung bata kasi ang daming mawawala na opportunity sa kanya."
At posting time, Iloilo is four wins behind eighth-running Negros Muscovados in the race to the playoffs and the team still has to face tough opponents Pangasinan, Binan and Valenzuela aside from 1Bataan and Saranggani.
Negros however will have to only win once against either Paranaque, 1Bataan or Kalookan to secure the 8th and final playoff spot.
“So technically, wala na chance ang Iloilo and Mark is no longer playing,” added Chua.
The basketball supporter claimed Nonoy has not received any salary from Iloilo since June 30.
“Wala siyang sweldo, mag-two months na. Paano babalik yung bata?” he said.
SPIN.ph tried to contact Nonoy’s handler, Marvin Espiritu, but the young player agent can only confirm the development with a short text.
“Wala pa ring release eh. We’re still waiting,” said the son of longtime PBA agent Danny Espiritu.
Nonoy won't burn bridges
Meanwhile, Nonoy refused to give further comments on his status, saying ‘he’d rather wait for more than a month than to burn bridges’.
“Eh di ko pa po alam situation ko. Wala pa rin po ako contract sa Terrafirma kasi po may existing [contract] pa ako sa Iloilo. Ayaw ko na po muna magsalita kasi baka po magka-problema pa,” said the amiable former La Salle team captain.
"Siguro po maghintay na lang ako. Last game namin sa eliminations is September 24. So wait na lang po ako."
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