PAMPANGA Governor Dennis 'Delta' Pineda said Larry Muyang will file an appeal before the PBA board of governors in the hope that the indefinite ban slapped on the Phoenix player for breach of contract will be lifted.
Pineda said Muyang has accepted the league’s decision to ban him indefinitely for playing in the MPBL in violation of his contract with Phoenix following a meeting with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial on Sunday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
READ PBA hits Larry Muyang with indefinite ban for breach of contract
Pineda, who was one of the persons who discovered Muyang during his younger days in Pampanga, added the 6-foot-6 center will also seek a meeting with Phoenix management to hopefully sort the matter out.
“Appeal siya sa board plus makiusap siya sa side ng Phoenix kasi team pa rin niya na we need to respect, hoping and praying na ma-consider ‘yung appeal niya,” Pineda, who is an assistant coach at Converge, said after the FiberXers' win against Blackwater in the PBA Philippine Cup on Sunday.
Muyang played for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL before his Phoenix deal expires at the end of May. Before that, Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia said Muyang was suspended by the team after he was caught playing in a ‘ligang labas’ without the ballclub's permission.
Marcial said Muyang could also face legal action for violating his live contract with the Fuelmasters.
Pineda said there was miscommunication between Muyang and Phoenix with regards to his appeal about his suspension for playing in an unsanctioned game.
Pineda said Muyang was in dire straits financially at that time after piling up debt before the death of his father last year, which led to him playing in a ‘ligang labas.’ Still, Pineda said it was not an excuse for Muyang to violate his contract with Phoenix.
“Nagkaroon ng miscommunication ‘yung appeal niya kasi ‘yung first fault niya, ‘yung nangangailangan ng pera because ipit na doon sa nangyari sa father niya, marami (siyang) utang. Na-obliga nung [PBA] break na maglaro sa labas which is mali. Hindi naman natin kinukunsinte doon.”
READ Muyang in hot water for playing in MPBL while still under contract in PBA
“And then, [with] two months remaining in the contract, umapela siya at nagkaroon ng miscommunication kasi sinuspindi din siya ng half month, I think, then another two months na naman. The contract will end na suspended siya, walang salary. Umappeal siya through a letter. Nagkaroon ng miscommunication between the agent [and the team].”
“Sabi ko nga, i-admit mo ‘yung mali mo. Ayaw mo man, nagkaroon ka ng mali. He will try na lang na makiusap sa Phoenix para hindi siya mademanda and try to appeal sa [PBA] board,” said Pineda.
Pineda is hoping Muyang will focus first on his appeal to the PBA and Phoenix before thinking about playing – regardless of the league.
“It’s been a personal matter na talagang nagipit ‘yung bata talaga. Lito na siguro dahil sa sitwasyon niya dahil nawala ‘yung magulang niya," he said.
"Pero doon sa time na ‘yun, kahit ganun ‘yung bata, humanga ako sa bata. Even ganun ‘yung sitwasyon ng father niya, ganito ‘yung salary niya, binigay niya lahat sa magulang niya. Lahat ng kaya niyang ibigay, binigay niya, without thinking na magkaka-savings pa siya sa pamilya niya. Ang focus niya is to give the best to his father,” said Pineda.
“Gawin na muna niya ‘yung appeal. Ang importante, makiusap muna sa both Phoenix and board,” said Pineda.
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