Beware of unregistered agents

The PBA draft is scheduled on May 15 and with the deadline to submit applications falling two days from now, unattached eligible prospects are being heavily courted to sign up with agents to represent them in negotiating contracts. There is talk that a US-based former PBA coach is sending feelers to Fil-foreign players to join his agency. He’s reportedly reaching out not just to draft prospects but also to players currently in the PBA, dangling juicy contracts to see action overseas.

“I think players should be given the full picture,” said a Filipino agent. “In the Japanese B.League, the big budget teams prefer to use their money for naturalized players, not Asian imports. So Asian imports are left to teams mostly in the lower level. The money is still good but eventually, the Filipinos who go to Japan and other countries will want to come back and play at home.”

PBA legal counsel Atty. Melvin Mendoza summarized the eligibility rules for the draft. “At least 22 or with two years of college and must be at least 19,” he said. “If player is eligible and does not join the draft, there will be a five-year sit-out. But he can opt to join a special draft through lottery within three years. Otherwise, he must complete the five-year sit-out period. The lottery is for all 12 teams. After the five-year sit-out, the player can apply for the draft. After five years, there is no age limit for locals unlike Fil-foreign players with a maximum of 30 years old. The two-year college requirement was anchored on the hardship rule where those who can’t afford to finish college may opt to join the draft as long as they’re 19. The three-year period runs from two years of college and 19 years of age.”

In a recent memorandum, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial set the guidelines for player agent accreditation. This was done to protect players from unscrupulous agents. The guidelines include a fee of P20,000 payable to the PBA every season, registration with GAB, maintaining an office in the country with VAT registration, appearance before the Commissioner for a personal interview, a commission on a player’s guaranteed income not more than five percent and no sharing of a player’s bonuses or non-guaranteed income. Prohibited from acting as a player agent are PBA and team officials or any of their relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity, any person receiving compensation from the PBA, any person convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and former PBA officials or any person who received any form of compensation from the PBA for a period of three years from his or her retirement, resignation, termination or dissociation from the PBA.