NLEX coach Yeng Guiao sees the unrestricted free agency rule to have a significant effect on the PBA's parity in the next few years, unless it is addressed by the league sooner rather than later.
Yeng Guiao on unrestricted free agency
Guiao on Thursday during the Zoom In episode on SPIN.ph renewed his call that the salary cap be adhered in the light of the UFA which allows players to choose their teams without being restricted by their mother ballclubs.
The UFA, though, was met with question marks from PBA followers after Rodney Brondial, Nards Pinto, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, and Chris Banchero exercised their right by signing with powerhouse teams San Miguel, Barangay Ginebra, TNT, and Meralco respectively.
Guiao said the UFA’s effects will not be felt in the immediate future, but sees a trend emerging from the ruling.
“Not right away. Pero after na-implement na natin itong UFA, and this is the first year, makikita mo na ‘yung trend at direction,” Guiao said. “So in three, four, five years, makikita mo na kung saan ang ano. The effect does not happen instantly. The effect will happen after three, four, five years kasi ‘yung mga susunod na magagaling na players, makikita mo na kung saan sila magpupunta.”
The PBA has said the rule created during the time of the late former chairman Ely Capacio was installed in order to allow freedom for the players to choose their destination. Previously, the rule is that teams retain the rights of the players in perpetuity unless released.
The PBA, though, said it is willing to review the contentious rule if there will be a negative impact on the league.
But for Guiao, the handwriting is already on the wall.
“’Yung mga next year na unrestricted free agent, saan ba mapupunta ‘yun. ‘Yung sa susunod na taon na unrestricted free agent, saan ba mapupunta ‘yan. So ito pa lang ‘yung kumbaga paramdaman pa lang ito. Kumbaga sa baraha, napipintahan pa lang natin ngayon. Pero makikita mo na kung saan direksyon pupunta ito. This is not going to happen instantly. Mararamdaman natin itong problema na ‘to na three, four, five years down the line, na makikita natin na lahat ng unrestricted free agent, nasa dalawa o tatlong team na lang,” said Guiao.
With the recent development, Guiao agrees that there will now be a significant sense of urgency for teams especially in the middle of the pack to win championships.
“Actually, masuwerte pa nga kami. We might not have the most resources among all the teams. But we have decent resources. Kumbaga ‘yung mga players namin na mapupunta sa unrestricted free agency, baka may chance pa kami ma-retain. Siguro ‘yung the lower half, baka mahirapan sila na ma-retain ‘yung mga papasok sa unrestricted free agency na magagaling.
“For us, maybe in the next two, three years, hindi ganun ka-serious. Tama ka na there is going to be more urgency to win it now or win it earlier. Kasi pagdating ng two, three years, makikita mo na kung saan ang punta ang agos. Aagos na ‘yan kung saan pupunta. Dapat talaga may mas urgency ka na to win now kasi in two, three, five years iba na ‘yung landscape,” said Guiao.
Here's the full Spin Zoom In episode with coach Yeng Guiao:
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