The PBA has yet to address several issues hounding the league, mainly about Kiefer Ravena and his decision to sign with Shiga in the Japan B.League.
A virtual press conference took place on Friday afternoon, but it was strictly all about the league gaining clearance from the Inter-Agency Task Force to begin Season 46 next week at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Commissioner Willie Marcial, however, vowed that the league will address the other matters on a different date.
“‘Yung ibang issue, siguro sa ibang presscon. Opening lang muna. Pasensya na kayo,” the amiable executive said, speaking from the league’s office in Libis.
“‘Yung ibang issue, pangako po. Magpe-presscon ulit kami.”
Many are still hoping for the league to turn its decision and allow Ravena to play for the Lakestars. The Japanese team announced last June that it signed the 27-year-old star for the 2021-22 B.League season under the Asian Player Quota.
But the PBA, from the looks of it, remains in status quo about the issue. In a presscon days after that announcement, the board, led by Chairman Ricky Vargas, said that Ravena should honor his contract with NLEX.
The second-generation star inked a three-year max deal with the Road Warriors last September. And the board does not want to set a bad precedent by allowing him to play in Japan.
This matter has merited mixed reactions from netizens. Some even suggested the concept of contract buyout just for Ravena to play. It was up for discussion, said Vargas, but the board thought that it might be ‘very difficult’ for the league.
This Ravena-Shiga situation is just one of the many issues that have been surrounding the league over the past months.
It will also tackle the situation of “free agent” Ray Parks.
Then there is the so-called ‘draft dodger’ rule, where top prospects who opt not to join the draft two years after their college career or two years after meeting the league’s minimum age requirement for rookies could face a ban.
That topic once again came into the spotlight when Kiefer’s brother, Thirdy, submitted a letter to the league. He explained his situation after signing a multi-year extension with another B.League team San-en NeoPhoenix.
The only three-time UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player with Ateneo wrote it to avoid the danger of violating such a rule.
The league has said earlier that it has a study group led by Vice Chairman Bobby Rosales to take a look at several issues like the aforementioned two and how it can address them.
In the same presser held regarding the Shiga signing, Rosales said that they are nearing completion of their report. But it remains to be seen officially what the group’s suggestions would be to help the PBA moving forward.
