Hawkins seeks PBA intervention

With the 2002 PBA season now around the corner and his contract buyout deal with Airfreight 2100/FedEx far from settled, Bong Hawkins has decided to seek intervention of the PBA Commissioner’s Office.

This developed as Dindo Pumaren and Noli Locsin denied ever mulling any class suit against Tanduay while AF 2100/FedEx president Lito Alvarez branded as "non issues" several talks that have sprouted while they’re negotiating for contract buyout deals with Locsin and Hawkins.

Pumaren and Locsin denied reports (not in The Star) they’re joining forces with Zaldy Realubit, Ricky Calimag and Hawkins for a case against Tanduay.

"Walang problema ang kontrata ko. Galing ito sa Pop Cola. Wala akong hilig sa gusot," said Locsin, who’s now with Red Bull after his contract was finally bought out by Airfreight/FedEx last night.

"Nagulat si Dindo. In the first place, he’s not represented by the agent of the other players mentioned in the report, so that agent can’t speak for Dindo," said coach Derrick Pumaren, Dindo’s older brother.

Airfreight/FedEx paid 50 percent of what had remained in Locsin’s old contract (P5.4 million) as the two parties finally severed their ties.

Still to be settled is the separate case of Hawkins since the former Alaska player signed two separate and contradicting contracts with Tanduay last year. Airfreight/FedEx management wants Hawkins out but they can’t decide which of two contracts they should buy out.

PBA executive director Sonny Barrios said they’ll honor what is filed with the Commissioner’s Office, one which says Hawkins is guaranteed three more years with a net pay of P8 million. The other contract, which is not in the PBA file, includes details of a bonus scheme but one with options for both parties to renegotiate after year 2002.

Hawkins wants FedEx to honor the three-year pact. FedEx, on the other hand, is saying Hawkins is tied up with the team only until this year.

Barrios, meanwhile, told The STAR they’re now mulling the possibility of also sanctioning players who let themselves involved in salary cap violations by a ballclub.

At the same time, Barrios said the Commissioner’s Office had issued a memorandum reminding ballclubs that all forms of compensations whether guaranteed or in the form of bonuses must now be included altogether in the uniform player’s contract in keeping with the new salary cap rules approved by the league board midway last year. — Nelson Beltran