Meralco shooting guard Gary David still has a live contract with the Bolts, team manager Paolo Trillo clarified.
“Gary was placed on the reserve list, but as per PBA rules, we are only allowed to protect one player. Right now, Rabeh Al-Hussaini is already on the reserve-protected,” Trillo said.
“Gary will have to be an unrestricted free agent. Technically, he still has a live contract with us, but as you know, unrestricted free agents have the prerogative of moving teams. If another team offers him, he has the freedom to move teams.”
David was suspended by the team earlier this week after refusing to play in the team’s match against NLEX last week. In a statement, Meralco stated David’s “behavior is unacceptable in different levels” because of “insubordination”, “lack of dedication to the team”, and “breach of contract which states that he’s obligated to play in official PBA games at all times.”
David, a two-time scoring champion, has averaged only 6.6 PPG on 34.8 percent shooting in 16.3 minutes per outing this conference.
Trillo added that if ever David receives an offer from another team and he decides to accept the offer, his new team will have to assume what is left of David’s contract under the Bolts.
“There are PBA rules for that. If a team gets him, then obviously the team has to assume his contract. They will have to take on it,” Trillo said.
David’s contract under Meralco runs until the end of the season.
Asked if the Bolts are still considering the reactivation of David, Trillo said the Meralco management has not yet discussed the next move regarding the issue.
“Again, as per PBA rules, once you put a player on a reserve list, he has to sit out two games. So this (against Blackwater) is our first game (without him), the second game is on April 3. We have not yet discussed our next move on that,” he said.
