FORMER PBA player Roger Yap said he is negotiating with San Miguel Corp. officials over what he claimed were 'unpaid bonuses' during his stint with Barako Bull in the PBA last season, adding he is mulling legal action if the remuneration remained unclaimed.
The 38-year-old Cebuano guard, a first-round pick of Purefods in 2001 who is currently without a team. claimed he is still owed around P700,000 in bonus during his stint last season with Barako Bull under a contract that expired last August 31.
“Pinag-aaralan ko na nga kung ano ang galaw na gagawin ko. Pero nag-i-start na kong gumalaw para makuha 'yun,” Yap told Spin.ph. “Inaantay ko pa. Pumunta na ko sa abugado ko at gagawa na siya ng letter para sa management ng San Miguel para ibigay namin doon.”
Asked why he is negotiating with San Miguel and not Barako management, Yap claimed SMC has jurisdiction over his contract, adding, "Alam naman natin eh (ang) Barako parang ano na rin 'yan ng San Miguel company. Lahat ng San Miguel players, Purefoods ganun, dadaan talaga sa Barako."
Yap revealed he and other Barako players receive their monthly paychecks through SMC affiliate Bank of Commerce.
“Ang nagbibigay sa akin (ng suweldo) San Miguel eh, Bank of Commerce. Same kami lahat (sa Barako), Bank of Commerce,” he explained.
[See Roger Yap hopes to revive PBA career after ancestral house, apartment row razed by fire]
Although Yap was vague on the details, the longtime backcourt partner of Purefoods star James Yap stood pat in his claim that all members of a team - from active players to reserves - are entitled to bonuses. The other party apparently disagrees.
“May contract 'yun, ayaw nila i-honor. Kung wala na kong choice at hindi nila ibigay, gagawa na ako ng aksyon talaga para makuha ko 'yun,” he said, mentioning a recent conversation with SMC sports director Alfrancis Chua.
“Ayaw nila ibigay. Sabi nga niya, discretion daw ng team. May rules daw ang PBA. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, ‘Wag nilang anuhin yung rules ng PBA, dahil hindi naman ipinakita sa amin 'yan nung pumirma kami ng kontrata.' Dapat i-honor nila yung kontrata. Pinirmahan namin 'yun eh,” he said.
“Wala naman dun (sa usapan at kontrata) na kung reserve ka, hindi ka bibigyan ng bonus o lahat.”
Yap said the unclaimed bonus will go a long way for his family, especially after the fire that hit the family's ancestral home in Cebu as well as apartments he was able to put up through his earnings in the pro league.
The former University of San Jose Recoletos star said his mother is also ailing.
“Basketball lang talaga ko, minsan may kaunti-kaunti pumapasok na income, gaya ng laro sa labas. Pero yung regular na income, wala talaga,” he said.
“Nakaka-recover na kami kaunti sa sunog, pero may kaunting problem kasi 'yung mom ko palagi sa ospital, ako pa rin tumutulong," Yap added. "Pero alam naman ng Diyos 'yan, mga problema, kaya naman 'yan."
Here's the video of the interview with Roger Yap:
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