CHICAGO - The contract negotiations between the Converge FiberXers and Schonny Winston are going through some rough, choppy waters.
There are 27 days left before the rising star guard's current deal expires and with the PBA's Season 50 tentatively set to start in 42 days, time is no longer an ally.
What was once just a cordial disagreement between two parties negotiating a deal took a sharp, nasty turn when the rising star guard did not play in Converge's game versus NLEX in the 2025 Kadayawan Invitational Basketball Tournament in Davao City.
COLUMN: Schonny weighs options as Converge offer 'falls short'
Converge is incensed,
"We will have our lawyers look into possibly filing a case of breach of contract against him," deputy coach and current Pampanga vice-governor Dennis "Delta" Pineda told me in a telephone interview.
Lawyer Mikey Ingles, the most prominent sports attorney in the Philippines, had this to say when asked for comment on the subject of breach of contract.
LEGALESE
"Generally, an unjustified refusal to play while under contract is a breach of said contract, If it goes to court though, the court may set its amount of monetary damages depending on how the judge characterizes the severity of the breach."
Winston had been practicing with the team since arriving from the US and the team has no reason to believe that there is a physical impediment from him playing in Thursday's game.
Converge believes Winston probably doesn't want to play until a new contract is signed, which seems fair and logical. But by the same token he still has a live contract through September 17 and the FiberXers want him to play in Davao to prepare for the next conference.
Team sources revealed that Winston, through his father Laurean Watkins Sr, wanted more money and bonuses that exceed what's allowed by PBA salary cap rules.
Watkins, in a separate interview, said "I'm just his dad, not his agent. I have nothing to do with his negotiations with the team, he does that directly himself."
SALARY CAP.
"We offered the max amount of P420,000 a month," Pineda explained while pointing out that they appreciate the value of Winston who averaged 16 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game in the Philippine Cup.
"If the PBA will increase the salary cap and set an amount na mas mataas pa sa P420,000 monthly, kakayanin namin despite our smaller budget as an independent team compared sa mga established na team gaya ng TNT at SMC."
As for the bonuses, Pienda said what was offered to Schonny was no different from what was given to Alec Stockton, Justin Arana, Justine Baltazar and the rest of the team.
"We are just following standard PBA rules and policies. We also want to be fair to all the players," Pineda added.
What if no deal is struck in time for the next conference?
"Walang 'I' sa 'team' so kung ayaw na ni Schonny mag sign ng contract extension we are prepared to move on without him," Pineda said.
The plot thickens.
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