FOR veteran player agent Danny Espiritu, PBA teams would hardly feel any ill effect of the unrestricted free agency rule if their relationship with the player has been smooth all along.
“Dapat iyon ang No. 1 concern ng teams. Ayusin nila relationship sa player nila, hindi iyung hihintayin pa nilang mag-seven (years) ‘yung player,” Espiritu, known as “Boss Danny” in PBA circles, told Malaya-Business Insight.
“‘Yung relasyon ang dapat nilang tingnan. Hindi naman lahat iyan mukhang pera. May mga players ako, iyon ang sinasabi nila sa akin,” added Espiritu.
“No. 1 sa mga factors na kino-consider ng ibang players ko iyan, ‘yung relationship niya sa mother team niya in the past. Nu’ng wala pa siyang seven (years) hirap na hirap siyang makahingi ng adjustment, na iniipit-ipit siya. Although maraming teams na nag-express ng interest sa kanya, ayaw ibigay nu’ng team niya. Kung humiling siya ng trade depende pa kung amenable mother team sa kapalit.
“Ngayon kapag nag-free agent na siya, lahat ibibigay sa kanya? Hindi na ganoon. Ang pupuntahan nu’ng player bagong relasyon. Ibang players ko iyon ang sinasabi. ‘Ayaw ko na d’yan. Natatandaan mo iyan, Boss? Ilang taon tayong naghirap dyan. Nakikiusap tayo, halos naglulumuhod tayo, ayaw pa rin nilang ibigay? Ngayon katakot-takot ang offers nila dahil sa free agent ako.’ Sana noon pa lang minahal na nila ako.’”
The PBA has started allowing players who have seen action for seven years in the pro league to become unrestricted free agents. The first players from the 2014 Draft class to take advantage of the novel rule were Rodney Brondial and John Pinto, who went to San Miguel Beer and Ginebra, respectively.
Before 2021, teams had the right of refusal wherein they could match any offer sheet that other clubs give to their players with expiring contracts.
This time, however, once a player’s contract gets past its eligible date then teams can go into a bidding war for his signature.
Commissioner Willie Marcial added they could still revisit the policies regarding unrestricted free agents next season and fix any disadvantages the league deems fit. “Napagkasunduan ng (PBA) Board na tingnan muna natin this year,” he said.
“Tingnan muna natin this year kung makakaapekto sa PBA, sa liga, saka natin i-revisit. Kung wala naman, katulad niyan, ilan-ilan lang naman, so okay pa,” added Marcial.
“Tingnan natin 2015 batch, ‘yun ‘yung next year. So tingnan natin. Kung makakaapekto, i-revisit. Kung ano makakaganda sa liga gawin natin.”
