Overseas opportunities

Arvin Tolentino’s decision to join the Korean Basketball League (KBL) shouldn’t be a cause for concern that more and more PBA stars are leaving to pursue overseas opportunities. In this day and age, it’s the way of the world. Globalization has opened the doors for players beyond borders.

In the NBA, there are at least 120 international or non-American players. Nobody chastises Nikola Jokic for not playing in Serbia where he wouldn’t earn even a fraction of his $51.4 million annual salary with the Denver Nuggets. Japanese NBA players Rui Hachimura and Yuki Kawamura aren’t criticized for not seeing action in the B-League. They’re in fact hailed as heroes for flying the Japanese flag in the NBA. Besides, they’ll end up in Japan when their NBA contracts expire like Yuta Watanabe. Pao Gasol returned to play in Spain after his NBA career and Andrew Bogut also went home to suit up in Australia from the NBA.

For Filipino players, the closest to living their NBA dreams is suiting up in Korea and Japan where the pay is far greater than in the PBA. Thirdy Ravena is an exception as after playing four years in Japan, he signed with BC Dubai in the Europe-based Adriatic League. Ravena, 28, has a player option to stay with Dubai another year. In his first season, he averaged 0.9 point and 4.7 minutes in 18 games, scoring a high of four points twice and going scoreless in 13 outings. Although he hardly gets playing time, Ravena is gaining tons of experience teaming with the likes of Latvian NBA veteran Davis Bertans and 6-2 University of Minnesota point guard Nate Mason. When his overseas options dry up, will Ravena enter the PBA draft? He’ll be a blue-chip pick for sure.

NorthPort management didn’t hold Tolentino back from pursuing the KBL offer. When his PBA contract expired last April 30, NorthPort allowed him to leave even as it retained his PBA rights. Tolentino had just been named Commissioner’s Cup Best Player of the Conference so his loss was major. But credit to NorthPort PBA governor Erick Arejola for giving Tolentino the green light to seek greener pastures. Tolentino has signed a three-year contract with the Seoul SK Knights.

Playing overseas isn’t a forever thing. Rhenz Abando, RJ Abarrientos, Robert Bolick, Christian David, Dave Ildefonso, Kemark Carino and Greg Slaughter are among those who came back home from abroad. A player who might consider joining the Sept. 7 PBA draft is Juan Gomez de Liaño, former Gilas guard who has played in Japan, Lithuania and Korea. Last season, De Liaño, 26, averaged 3.2 points and 8.8 minutes in 36 games in the KBL. He’ll be a prized catch in the PBA. His brother Javi, 27, preceded Tolentino, moving from PBA to KBL last season. More on overseas opportunities in tomorrow’s column.