PBA mulls lower salary cap

Somehow, this is bad news for amateur standouts now planning to join the PBA and even PBA stars whose contracts are to expire at the end of the year.

The Philippine Basketball Association is thinking of revising its salary cap scheme next season, reducing the ceilings both in the team and individual caps with the local pro league probably taking the cue from the NBA or simply feeling the pinch of the economic crisis the country is suffering at the moment.

The proposed salary cap revision is on top of the agenda as the PBA Board of Governors holds its next board meeting on Oct. 7.

At the moment, the league imposes an annual team cap of P36.3 million and a maximum of P6 million a year to any individual player. Rookie players, meanwhile, are not allowed to receive more than P2.4 million in their first year in the league.

Amidst the crisis, the board saw the need to tighten its belt, thus, it’s now formulating a new set of rules on salary cap.

Incidentally, the NBA is also imposing a revised salary cap scheme starting next season with its television income dipping the last few years.

Players who might be affected by the revised ceiling are potential No. 1 draft pick Romel Adducul and old PBA mainstays Mark Caguioa, Bal David, Ronald Magtulis, Jimwell Torion, Junthy Valenzuela, Mick Pennisi, Rodney Santos, Rob Wainwright, Mike Hrabak, Paolo Mendoza, Boybits Victoria, Rob Duat and Boyet Fernandez who are likely to bargain for a higher pay as their contracts expire at the end of the year.

Among the other players whose contracts are about to expire are Richard Yee, Roger Yap, Bonel Balingit, Jherome Ejercito, Noynoy Falcasantos, brothers Elmer and Dwight Lago, Banjo Calpito, Jayjay Helterbrand, Ato Morano, Estong Ballesteros, Rafi Reavies, Chris Bolado, Alex Crisano, Anton Villoria, Nelson Asaytono, Noli Locsin, Bong Alvarez, Zaldy Realubit, Dindo Pumaren, Jojo Lastimosa, Alvin Teng and Edmund Reyes.

But a board member told The STAR the new rules would not be retroactive, thus, players who are receiving a monthly take of P500,000 will continue to do so until the expiration of their existing contracts.

Among the players receiving the maximum allowed in the league are Asi Taulava, Dennis Espino, Marlou Aquino, Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio, Danny Ildefonso, Danny Seigle, Jun Limpot, Eric Menk, Vergel Meneses and Kenneth Duremdes.

Adducul is expected to get the most lucrative PBA pact among players coming from the Metropolitan Basketball Association. However, the 6-foot-5 behemoth out of San Sebastian College won’t get the same pay and perks he used to get from the defunct league.