PBA commissioner Chito Salud is set to summon Alaska rookie Calvin Abueva early next week to remind him of rules that prohibit pro players from moonlighting in other leagues without the mother ballclub’s consent.
Salud said he found the need to brief the celebrated rookie about the rules after Spin.ph got hold of a video (for the link, click here) showing Abueva playing in a small league in Sta. Maria, Bulacan on Monday night without the knowledge, much less approval, of the Uytengsu franchise.
"Gusto ko siyang makausap para ipaliwanag ang batas ng liga sakaling hindi pa niya alam," Salud said.
Abueva has been known to barnstorm small-time leagues all over the country early in his career, but he got into trouble this time because the PBA’s uniform player’s contract prohibits unsanctioned stints in other tournaments.
"May ibang player kasi hindi makatanggi kapag inaya ng kaibigan, kamaganak o pulitiko,” said the league’s media bureau chief Willy Marcial. “Pero dapat talaga pag ganoon, magpaalam muna sila sa mother teams nila at sa PBA.”
The escapade has also angered Abueva’s own manager, former Lubao mayor Dennis Pineda, who vowed to give the sensational freshman a dressing down.
"Mali yun. Pagsasabihan ko si Calvin. Nakakahiya sa Alaska, buo pa naman ang tiwala sa kanya nung team,” Pineda, son of Pampanga governor Lilia, told Spin.ph.
The Pampanga vice gubernatorial candidate, however, admitted he was the first person to expose Abueva to these leagues early in the player’s career.
"Nung araw talagang pinalalaro ko sila sa iba't ibang lugar kasi part ng training nila 'yun. Para mas tumibay at lumakas ang laro. Pero nasa PBA na siya (Abueva) ngayon. Ano pa ba ang gusto niya?" Pineda said.
Meanwhile, Air21 coach Franz Pumaren said he penalized Khasim Mirza for a similar incident a few years back because such appearances not only put players at great risk of injuries but are also unfair to management.
Pumaren suspended Mirza for one month and slapped him with a P35,000 fine for playing in a league in Marikina two years ago without the team’s consent.
"Unfair sa management yung ginawa na yun dati ni Khasim. He's getting paid, given perks tapos lalaro siya sa ganoon. E kung ma-injure siya?" Pumaren said.
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