PBA: Expiring player contracts extended until end of the year

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams have the option to extend the expiring contracts of their players until the end of the year, commissioner Willie Marcial announced on Tuesday.

Several players, including San Miguel stalwarts Arwind Santos and Alex Cabanot, have contracts that will expire on August 31.

"Nag-desisyon ang governors na lahat ng players extended hanggang December 31. Option ng team," Marcial said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum.

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Those whose contracts are not extended by their mother teams will become free agents, but those who receive extensions will do so without need for a negotiation.

"Ngayon pa lang, extended na hanggang December 31. So swerte 'yung mga players, kasi may PBA o wala, sweldo nila hanggang December 31, extended," said Marcial.

Marcial said the PBA Board of Governors made the decision so as to give the players peace of mind, especially given the uncertain times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aside from Cabagnot and Santos, other players with expiring contracts include: Alaska's Jeron Teng, Blackwater's Carl Bryan Cruz, NorthPort's Paolo Taha, Magnolia's Rome dela Rosa, Meralco's John Pinto and Nico Salva, and Phoenix's Dave Marcelo and Jake Pascual.

The PBA had suspended all transactions last May, and the resumption of trades has yet to be discussed by the Board.

"Ang negotiation, sa January," said Marcial. "Pero sinafety agad natin 'yung kanilang sweldo. 'Di ba, kumpyansa o kampante na ako na hanggang December 31, meron akong makukuha."

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).