Menk, Jackson, Seigle cleared to play

Eric Menk, Chris Jackson and Andy Seigle are now eligible to suit up for their respective teams in the coming 26th PBA season as they finally got certification of recognition from the Bureau of Immigration yesterday.

The BI dismissed the deportation cases against the three and 10 other cagers but five from the MBA were fined for working in the country without proper permits.

The BI found Menk, Jackson, Seigle along with MBA players Rudy Hatfield and Alex Crisano legitimate Filipino-Americans but deferred decision on Asi Taulava, Nic Belasco and Sonny Alvarado pending the final hearing of their cases Tuesday.

The Negros Slashers' Dorian Peña, Dean Labayen and Eulo Regala, and the Cebu Gems' Rob Wainwright and Matthew Mitchell, who did not invoke Philippine citizenship, were cleared but fined for playing without first securing work permits.

The players' mother teams were likewise fined as they were held liable for allowing foreigners to play without requiring them necessary papers.

Peña, Labayen and Regala were fined P100,000 each, Wainwright and Mitchell P50,000 each and the Negros Slashers and the Cebu Gems P300,000 and P100,000, respectively.

Another MBA player whose case was dropped was Christopher La Fontaine, who, according to BI reports, was previously a holder of a missionary visa, hence was only ordered to apply for a work permit.

The cases against Nate Payne and William Wilson were dismissed after the BI found out that the two players were hired to play in the MBA but never set foot in the country.

BI Commissioner Rufus Rodriguez said the swift action on the Fil-Ams' cases was in response to the appeal of PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino for an early resolution of the cases so that the players can be re-hired and practice with their teams in time for the opening of this year's campaign.

"This is definitely a welcome news for everyone concerned since these PBA teams can now start preparing fully," said Bernardino, who bared that he will meet with Taulava's parents in the next few days.

Taulava has been required to present his Filipino mother to the BI offices on Tuesday while Belasco and Alvarado have been ordered to submit authenticated documents. -