CHICAGO— At age 27, his game slowly maturing into stardom, Gian Mamuyac is at the crossroads of his PBA career.
Torn between team loyalty and the desire to generate more income as a family breadwinner.
With his current deal set to expire this month, the four-year veteran would love to stay at Rain or Shine.
COLUMN: Sotto, Ravena, Parks not lacking in Japan B.League offers
But after overperforming his contract, multiple sources told me Gian requested a salary increase that bumps his pay from around P280,000 a month to somewhere near P360,000.
It’s a fair and modest ask, given how Mamuyac delivered in the PBA Season 50 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series against Ginebra.
SALARY HIKE.
Those playoffs heroics capped a productive elimination round where he averaged 13 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 11 games.
Despite Mamuyac’s high level of play, though, Rain or Shine balked.
While RoS appreciates Gian, the Elasto Painters are an independent outfit which doesn’t have the big budget of rich teams.
Fortunately for Mamuyac, he has an offer to play for the Earthfriends Tokyo Z of the Japan B.League.
Reluctantly, the three-time UAAP champion out of Ateneo is seriously contemplating leaving the PBA.
Previously a Division III competitor, the Earthfriends have just been promoted to the B.League’s Division I where Asian quota imports have a base minimum pay of $10,000 a month.
BUT THERE'S A RISK.
If it doesn’t work out in Japan, Mamayuc will face a three-year PBA ban, no thanks to a punitive rule imposed after Jamie Malonzo left Ginebra to sign with Kyoto Hannaryz last October.
Being loyal is noble and the tale of a player turning his back on more cash so he can continue to roll with the same team is a feel-good story to write.
It’s also the stuff of fantasy.
At the end of the day, Mamuyac has utility bills, living expenses and a future to save for.
Money, not loyalty, takes care of all that.
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