The Games and Amusements Board has sent a letter to Glutagence head coach and team owner Justin Tan, requesting him to “shed light” on his alleged non-payment of salaries to his players.
In a letter dated January 10, none other than GAB Pro Sports Division chief Dioscoro Bautista has ordered Tan to explain why the team has yet to pay the salaries of their players that competed in the Women’s National Basketball League.
“According to one of your players, weeks into the campaign, their first salary was already delayed and the next half month’s salary was still a bit late,” read the letter. “For the second month, they were allegedly given nothing but still they continued to show up as the Glow Boosters qualified to the semi-finals.
“However, your team’s stint in the tournament ended in the third week of November when the league terminated your team due to failure to settle the franchise fees. Allegedly, since then, the players have not heard anything about the unpaid wages and they were only given in total, 1.5 months equivalent of salary.”
Heartbreaking was the campaign of the Glow Boosters in the first pro season of the WNBL.
Having a star-studded lineup, Glutagence was supposed to compete in a win-or-go-home semis game three last November 21 against Taguig.
However, Glutagence had to forfeit the game and their entire campaign due to non-payment of league fees.
A month after the season had ended, Tan has yet to pay the players according to accounts which is why the regulatory board for pro leagues decided to intervene.
“Our mandate is to look after the welfare of our licensees (the pros) and this is our job,” said GAB chairman Baham Mitra. “The responsibility of being a pro does not rest on the athletes alone but on the team and league officials as well. A license is a privilege and can be revoked at any time.
“GAB will always make sure that contracts are followed. These are only a few of the benefits of becoming a pro league and player.”
For its part, the WNBL has already informed GAB of Tan’s case as early as November 26.
“This is to inform your good office that the National Basketball League-Pilipinas Inc. (NBL) operating under the style and name of Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) has perpetually banned JUSTIN ANTHONY TAN from participating in the league’s activities,” read the league’s letter to GAB.
“Mr. Tan’s actions during the past months have proven detrimental to the smooth conduct and operation of a professional Women’s Basketball league thus we are also recommending the cancellation of his government-issued (GAB) licenses.”
Tan has until January 20 to respond to GAB’s request.
