KYT Jimenez has a chance to finally showcase his talent internationally.
But there's just one problem.
Jimenez is poised to sign a 10-day contract to play for the Zamboanga Valientes in a 10-day tournament in Dubai, but doing so means the flamboyant guard will have to forfeit his guaranteed PBA contract with San Miguel.
Currently, Jimenez is still tied down to a contract that pays him P90,000 a month and runs until December 31, 2025 even after he was relegated by the Beermen to their unrestricted free agent with rights to salary (UFAWR2S) list last November.
READ: Kyt Jimenez now an unrestricted free agent
Under PBA rules, unrestricted free agents may receive the remainder of their salaries stipulated in their uniform players contract (UPC) provided they don’t sign with another PBA team or teams from other leagues.
In same cases, a buyout is reached by both parties to pave the way for the player to take his act elsewhere. But there is no talk of a buyout in this case.
San Miguel was forced to drop Jimenez from its active roster last November since the team already has eight Fil-foreign players in its fold - over the league limit. Jimenez was born in Saudi Arabia and is therefore considered a Fil-foreigner.
READ PBA revisits rule limiting Fil-foreign players per team
Jimenez has already bid San Miguel goodbye in a social media post last December 30, but his longtime patron Arch. Arnold Lanaria revealed Jimenez is at a crossroads.
“Hindi nya alam gagawin n'ya, kasi sayang yung P90,000 a month na salary n'ya from San Miguel if mapuputol yun because he will play for Zamboanga,” said Lanaria, a sportswear maker (10ACT) and chemical importer (Sumochem).
"Kaso, sayang din ang chance n'ya to play kasi may sweldo ka nga ng isang taon, tengga ka naman," Lanaria added.
Lanaria admitted the flashy 5-11 guard, who rose to fame with Mavs Phenomenal and in the MPBL but has hardly seen action since being signed by SMB as its 79th overall pick last year, needs the exposure to remind people of how good he is.
But at the same time, he can use the guaranteed money from the SMB contract.
“Ang problema kasi dito, halos P1 million 'yung mawawala sa kanya from San Miguel. Kaso isang taon rin mawawala sa playing career n'ya kung hihintayin lang n'ya na matapos ang kontrata nya,” Lanaria said.
Lanaria bared that Jimenez’s agent, Danny Espiritu, is still looking for a team where the flamboyant guard out of Project 4, Quezon City can again play.
“Gusto yata ni Boss Danny either Blackwater or Terrafirma as Kyt’s next destination. Kaso ang concern namin, kung hindi nakikita yung bata na naglalaro, baka mahirapan din kumuha ng magandang contract at playing time,” said Lanaria.
“Yung offer talaga ng Valientes is good for Kyt kaso what happens to him after yung Middle East tournament? Baka matengga ulit siya and this time, walang sure cash flow after,” he added.
Lanaria is optimistic the Valientes’ plans will open doors for Jimenez.
“Dos kasi ang lalaruin nya run then ang point guard nila is Forthsky Padrigao so excited talaga si Kyt sa chances nya. Saka yung owner ng Valientes is guaranteeing him playing time,” he said.
“So ang tanong kasi namin ngayon, ano ang dapat piliin ni Kyt, guaranteed contract until December 31 o playing minutes and a chance to be exposed abroad?" he said. "Ang hirap."
Valientes offers opportunity
Valientes’ team owner Junnie Navarro hopes that by the time he meets with Jimenez on January 8, the 27-year-old guard is ready to sign on the dotted line.
“Sana pumirma siya kasi sa last naming pag-uusap, gusto n'ya 'yung opportunity na ibinibigay namin,” he said. “The kid is good. Ako naniniwala na kaya siya sikat is because nakaka-relate sa laro n'ya at perseverance n'ya yung average height Filipinos.
“Gusto kasi natin mabigyan ng chance si Kyt na maipakita yung talagang kakayahan nya. Because ako I personally saw him play against our Zamboanga Valientes when we played in our hometown two years ago,” said Navarro. referring to the Valientes-Mavs Phenomenal sellout game last September 20, 2022.
Navarro said the acquisition of Jimenez is part of Valientes’ program to help promising athletes get the platform they need to break out to a higher level.
If you are in the shoes of of Jimenez, what will you choose: a guaranteed contract that pay P90,000 per month until December or an international tournament that will give you the chance to once again display your skills?
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
