CHICAGO - For the second straight night, Schonny Winston did not suit up for Converge in the ongoing Kadayawan Invitational Tournament in Davao City.
"He refused to play," a team official told me in a telephone interview hours after the FiberXers survived a 100-98 dogfight versus the Phoenix Fuelmasters.
I reached out to Schonny's camp and asked them to comment about the recent development, but they politely declined.
COLUMN: Fuming Pineda warns of lawsuit as Winston sits out Davao game
Although obviously exasperated, the FiberXers are exercising patience as the posturing amid contract renegotiations continue.
While diplomacy has prevailed so far, make no mistake, Converge will impose stiff sanctions if Winston's alleged refusal to play continues.
"We will remind him daily that he needs to play to honor his live contract. We are documenting the chain of events and after consulting our lawyers we will deal with the punitive side of the matter once the team returns to Manila," the official added.
TICK. TOCK. TICK. TOCK.
As the clock continues to tick on both the end of Schonny's existing deal and the start of PBA Season 50, the tension is growing.
And that's just fine.
Contract talks are inherently uneasy, sometimes confrontational. That's an expectation in a scenario where two sides want things the other refuses to give. Often, there really is no clear winner, just two parties arriving at a happy compromise.
But neither side should be villainized here.
Converge can't be faulted for setting its own price point based on salary cap limitations, it's relatively smaller budget as an independent team, and its own valuation of Winston.
Schonny, on the other hand, can't be antagonized or labeled as greedy for asking what he felt he deserved after a Philippine Cup conference where his stats appeared to have outperformed his contract.
SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF BOTH SIDES DIVORCE?
Converge will recalibrate and look for a guard that can boost their backcourt through the draft or the trade market.
Mikey Williams being signed is still a huge possibility, I am told. A two-time Finals MVP and two-time PBA champion, Williams is an equalizer that can fill holes and gaps in the offense in the event of a Winston departure.
As for Schonny, a combo guard, who can shoot and defend, and has size at his position at 6-foot-4 and 190-lbs, his talent will generate interest overseas.
Despite being ineligible in both the KBL (Asian imports must have two Filipino parents or Filipino passport holders) and the Japan B.League (unless he suits up for a Gilas stint), options are still bountiful for Schonny in Taiwan and Europe.
If he is no longer happy at Converge, perhaps a change of scenery and a chance to grow his game internationally will make his career prosper. Wherever he lands, he is destined to be a star.
In a perfect world, it would be wonderful to see him stay in the PBA. But we do not live in a perfect world.
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.
