PLAYERS under contract with their respective mother teams receive their regular monthly salaries during the PBA On Tour.
But how about the free agents and rookie draft prospects tapped to play for the two-month long, preseason meet?
They do not receive monthly salaries, but instead receive allowances on a per game and per practice basis.
“Mga allowances lang 'yan. Siyempre, iba 'yung sa game and iba rin 'yung sa practice,” said a league insider privy to the usual arrangement reached by both teams and players.
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The source added, allowances given vary from player to player and team to team.
“Iba-iba, e. Kumporme na sa team and player,” said the insider.
Rookie hopefuls and college players are issued special guest licenses by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) during the preseason so as not to lose or forfeit their eligibility in the varsity ranks.
Under the guidelines, they are to receive mere allowances for a short and limited period of time.
As for how much their allowances? They range from P2,000 to P5,000 per game.
“Iba pa yung rate ng allowances sa practice games,” said the source, noting teams usually practice multiple times every week when no games are scheduled to be played.
Notable teams that tapped collegiate players include TNT, which has the San Beda quartet of Clifford Jopia, Damie Cuntapay, Peter Alfaro, and JV Gallego; Northport with the Letran pair of Fran Yu and Tommy Olivario; Converge has Ateneo’s Jolo Mendoza, and Phoenix has another Atenean in Juan Carlos Fetalvero.
Of course, players who suffered injuries during games need not worry about treatment. Their medical expenses will be shouldered by their mother teams.
“Teams ang magpapagamot nun siyempre,” the source added.
As for the free agents, most of them are under contract in the PBA 3x3, and since the preseason began with the 3-aside tournament still on a break, teams opted to include them in the 5-on-5 roster to keep them fit.
“Bale yung suweldo nila sa 3x3 sustained lang dahil naglalaro sila sa PBA on Tour habang wala pa (yung 3x3),” said the same insider
Barangay Ginebra went that particular route, integrating its 3x3 players of Kim Aurin, Donald Gumaru, Raphael Cu, Ralph Salcedo, John Ubalde, and JJ Espanola to the 5-on-5 team.
Players in the halfcourt game receive a minimum starting salary of P50,000, aside from the prize money the team receives as leg champion (P100,000) and conference grand champion (P750,000).
NLEX also did the same by tapping Dominick Fajardo and Bong Galanza; San Miguel with Marvin Lee, Leo De Vera, John Apacible, and Chester Saldua; Terrafirma with Shaq Alanes and Jeremiah Taladua; Northport with John Sobrevega, Johnel Bauzon, and Jebb Bulawan; Blackwater in Rey Publico, Magnolia with Joseph Eriobu, and of late, the grand slam team of TNT composed of Almond Vosotros, Lervin Flores, Ping Exciminiano, Samboy De Leon, and Gryann Mendoza.
One exceptional free agent case was that of veteran Noy Baclao.
After parting ways with Meralco, the former top overall pick tried out with San Miguel, which agreed to take a closer look at him amid perception that he hasn’t fully recovered from a knee injury that kept him in and out of the Bolts’ roster previously.
But the 36-year-old Baclao was able to prove his worth and soon after, earned a well-deserved contract with the Beermen that extends all the way to the new PBA season.
The PBA on Tour ends on July 30 after more than two months of competition.
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