In the sense that is commonly accepted by the basketball community, poaching refers to the “illegal hunting or catch (game or fish) on land that is not one’s own; or in contravention of official protection.”
This is especially true when referring to wild game hunters killing wild animals (like lions, tigers or elephants in Africa) during the more lenient times.
In short, poaching is “taking or acquiring in an unfair or clandestine way.”
PBA chair Ricky Vargas recently moaned about foreign agents snatching PBA talents and bringing them elsewhere particularly to the rich Japan Basketball League (JBL or B. League).
Poaching in the PBA has suddenly become a threatening issue because several of the PBA’s top notch players have opted to strut their wares in the JBL as imports.
Money (monthly salary, compensation/bonuses) is the primary factor.
As we have read in various sports articles and features, a Pinoy PBA pro like Kiefer Ravena gets a minimum of $40,000/month (equivalent to P2M pls at 52/per US dollar).
So, even newly graduated college seniors are attracted and inclined to accept offers from “poachers” who bring them to the JBL.
Why not?
A professional plays for money. His lifespan is not forever because his body can only withstand the onset of aging while he is still young, agile and athletic..
Kiefer’s younger sibling, Thirdy, was actually the first Pinoy to be imported by one of the JBL clubs. Instead of suiting up in the PBA after his graduation from Ateneo and the UAAP, he made a wise choice to earn BIG money to establish his future.
Ray Parks also cut short his PBA adventures and so did Dwight Ramos and Kobe Paras and now Justine Baltazar and SJ Belangel.
PBA rules stipulate that Kiefer and other former pros can only return and be accepted by the PBA after 5 years.
Well, if Kiefer is paid $40,000/month by his JBL club, how much would he be earning in 5 years? Figure that out.
In the same manner that they exert their best while donning PBA uniforms for a monthly compensation of P420,000 (the PBA ceiling), Ravena et al (and their families) would better benefit banging bodies in the JBL
In this sense, Greg Slaughter, who has not been signed by NorthPort up to this writing, may find himself a window of opportunity. One of these days,
Vargas aptly echoed this fear but the PBA board must instead review its signing policies that somehow keep in unfavorable bondage the likes of Slaughter and company.
Pinoy basketeers now have a choice and fulfill a career while nurturing their college ambitions.
They should not be bad-mouthed or maltreated because earning a comfortable income and living in ease is everyone’
s goal in this material world.
Fearfully losing its luster and glamour that it has enjoyed since becoming Asia’s first pro league in 1975 must be the PBA’s number one board agenda.
Vargas and company must take the bull by its horns. NOW. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
