JUST a few days after Mac Tallo got in hot water with Converge and the PBA for accusations of playing in 'ligang labas' games, it's now the turn of Phoenix forward Chris Lalata to face the music.
This after SPIN.ph was furnished with photos and videos of the 6-5 wingman playing in a local league in Sta. Cruz, Occidental Mindoro, wearing jersey No. 4 for MA Piggery Sta Cruz in a game against BBM Sablayan.
READ Tallo summoned by PBA as he risks termination of Converge contract
At posting time, the livestream can still be viewed on Sta. Cruz Mayor Ernie Torreliza’s Facebook page.
The game was won by Lalalata’s team, 97-74.
A source from the Phoenix team who requested anonymity, bared that they were not advised by Lalata regarding the Mindoro game. Neither was permission sought, the team insider added.
“Hindi siya nagpaalam. We didn’t know he was playing elsewhere last night. Wala kaming idea about it. But this is a sad development, we hope malagpasan n'ya 'yan (investigation),” said the source.
Lalata, a source bared, is receiving a salary of P120,000 a month in his sophomore year in the pro league.
Sources in Mindoro said Lalata was contracted to receive P15,00 per game in a tournament where the champion team gets the P400,000 purse, the runner-up P300,000, the third-placer P200,000 and the fourth-placer P100,000.
A team insider bared that another Phoenix player, RR Garcia, sought and got permission to play in a charity game in Cebu over the weekend. But not Lalata.
"Si RR nagpaalam 'yun. Ang tagal ng process before a permit came out kasi need i-assess ng Commissioner’s Office yung league, yung playing venue and the management that will hire him for the game. Itong kay Chris, wala itong paalam. So we don’t know what will happen (to him),” he said.
Though not part of the team’s regular rotation, the Phoenix official stressed that under the contract, players are not allowed to play in unsanctioned leagues without the written permission of both the team and the PBA.
Aside from possible suspension without pay or worst contract termination, Lalalata faces a fine from the PBA, which according to sources has recently raised the penalty for such 'ligang labas' violations to as much as P300,000.
Lalata is best remembered by fans for being the only player who got in the nerves of Ginebra import Justin Brownlee for a second motion during a defensive play during the 2022 Commissioner's Cup.
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