PBA commissioner Willie Marcial believes Filipinos playing basketball overseas are attracted by the huge pay offered by foreign teams, some as much as three times more than the local rate, but eventually most of them will return to the country and resume their careers here.
Marcial cited three players who played in the Japan B.League who now are back in the country and playing in the PBA. He said two more had indicated they want to return.
He did not say why they are coming back and neither did the players say the reason why they are returning. Although it was noted that some have contracts that expired and were not renewed, others simply said they have become free agents.
'May gustong bumalik,' says Marcial
“Tatlo na ang bumalik, may dalawa pang gustong bumalik pero nagsabi pa lang,” said Marcial in an interview with the Let It Fly podcast.
Already in the country and back with their old teams are Robert Bolick of NLEX, as well as Javi Gomez de Liano and Kemark Carino, both of Terrafirma.
During the interview, Marcial said that of the other two players wanting to return, one is weighing his options and is looking at where he will be picked in the draft, while the other suddenly made an about face after he was offered a contract by a team in Japan.
“May isa, muntik nang bumalik, nakakuha lang ng kontrata sa Japan,” said Marcial, who did not identify the two players he said had planned on returning.
Free agents waiting for contracts include Kiefer Ravena, who once played for NLEX before joining the Shiga Lakes, the recent champion of the Japan B2 League, and Matthew Wright, who previously played for Phoenix, and had a stint with Kyoto.
Thirdy Ravena is also a free agent after playing for San-En Neophoenix, and Carl Tamayo still has no club team after his time with Ryukyu Golden Kings, also in the Japan B.League.
On Tuesday, Ray Parks became the sixth Filipino import in the B.League to turn free agent after a solid third season with Nagoya saw the Diamond Dolphins got as far as the semifinals of the playoffs.
Over in Korea, Rhenz Abando has decided not to renew with the Anyang Jung Kwan Jang Red Boosters.
If some of these players intend to play in the PBA, Marcial said they will have to go through the draft. Those who left and are still within the three-year period since they became available must enter the draft, while those outside that period will become special lottery players. This was the rule agreed upon by the board during their last planning session held in Paris.
Marcial said the exodus of Filipino players overseas is similar to OFWs who chose to go abroad for higher salary to support their families.
“Sa akin, okay sa akin ‘yun, honestly. One, hanapbuhay ‘yun eh. It’s good for their future, good for their kids, good for their families,” said Marcial.
Marcial does not appear worried about the country's young and talented players, many of them stars during their college years, who have opted to join overseas teams rather than the PBA.
“Sabi ko naman sa kanila, babalik at babalik ‘yan sa atin at maglalaro sa PBA,” said Marcial.
Marcial hopes to see Kai Sotto in the PBA in the future
One player who Marcial said he hopes to see one day play in the PBA is Kai Sotto. And he did not hesitate to say so when asked in the podcast who among those abroad he wishes to see play in the local league.
Sotto, 22, is a 7-foot-3 center playing for the Hiroshima Dragonflies in Japan. Last year, he entered the NBA draft but went unselected. Despite the rejection, he said his ulltimate dream remains to eventually play in the NBA.
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