CHICAGO - Despite the promise of stardom, his stock flickering like New Year's Eve fireworks, former Phoenix Super LPG guard Encho Serrano ran away from the PBA and straight into the open arms of the MPBL.
As reported by our SPIN.ph colleague Snow Badua, several reasons factored into the 23-year old's hasty escape, including the eagerness to play in a competitive setting and the joy to represent his home province by way of the Pampanga Giant Lanterns.
READ: Delta Pineda reveals reason behind Encho move MPBL
Money, one of mankind's oldest motives, was also an underlying inspiration.
Serrano's longtime patron, Pampanga Governor Dennis 'Delta' Pineda, talked about a P70,000 a month salary when asked about the flamboyant player's decision to leave the PBA for the MPBL.
But Phoenix was quick to refute, saying the P70,000 a month salary was Serrano's first-year salary and not exactly the team's offer to the former La Salle guard in the offseason negotiation table.
"Encho's first year salary was aligned with his 19th pick spot," Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia told me via text message when asked about the salary, which was well below the P200,000 maximum for incoming players.
"After expiring, he was offered a much higher extension rate already," he added.
Fair enough.
UNDER MARKET VALUE
Although I think the Super LPG misappropriated the value of Encho by choosing to pay him P130,000 a month less than what he could have gotten, Bugia played by the rules as allowed by the PBA.
Having said that, the larger issue here is the low rate for freshmen and the league's refusal to raise the ceiling, as promised.
When agent's fees and other incidentals are taken, P70,000 is not much to live on if you are living in Manila where the PBA is played.
Unlike the Philippine Volleyball League (PVL) where player salaries are rising like our national debt, the PBA doesn't seem to be interested in increasing players' salaries.
On the heels of Thirdy Ravena's dash to Japan in 2021, the PBA planned to increase the salary cap on rookies. That hasn't changed, multiple agents, including Ed Ponceja, told SPIN.ph.
OVERSEAS EXODUS
Sorry if I sound like a broken record, but this is why so many pros and collegiate stars have departed for Japan, Taiwan and Korea.
The Ravena brothers. Ray Parks. Dwight Ramos. Matthew Wright. Greg Slaughter. Carl Tamayo. Justine Baltazar. Kobe Paras. Ricci Rivero. Rhenz Abando. RJ Abarrientos. And the list is growing.
Money isn't everything. But it pays the bills, and having it makes life easier to navigate.
How many Encho Serranos are out there in the PBA?
It is comforting to know that PBA players who seek greener pastures can now seek shelter in another local league like the MPBL. Quite strange, but true.
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