PBA board OKs hiking player, team salary cap

The PBA board of governors, in a hastily-arranged meeting Thursday at the PBA office Libis, approved raising both the player and team salary caps. League commissioner Chito Salud made the recommendation of increasing the maximum salary allowed per player by 20 percent, where the new arrangement will give a player a maximum salary of P420,000 from the previous P350,000. The PBA also adjusted the team salary cap of P36 million to P42 million, an agenda that was initially included in the board's annual planning session in Hong Kong last week, but was decided to be deferred later on. "Initially, this (salary cap hike) is something that we did not want," said PBA board chairman Mamerto Mondragon of Rain or Shine. "But we realized that we have to strengthen all the teams and we have to make adjustments." The drastic move adopted by the board was in obvious reaction to the serious allegations raised by Wilfred Uytengsu just a week ago where the Alaska team owner revealed that violations are being committed on the league's salary cap rule. Salud vowed to castigate violators especially now that a new salary cap rule is in effect. "The rules apply to all. The Board has made a decision to make it an even playing field and for the players to perform better for the fans," said Salud. "I call on all team owners, managers, players and agents to look at the greater good of the league. Should there be any kind of breach at this salary cap I will not waste time running after the violators." Also approved during Thursday's board meeting is the increase in the won-game bonuses to be given to players, including that of a championship incentive where the team involved is allowed to give as much as it can afford. Won game bonuses in the elimination round and quarterfinals were raised to P6,000 from P4,000 while cash incentives of P8,000 and P10,000 will be given to a player for each win in the semifinals and Finals. For a team that wins a championship, the board approved that bonuses to be given will be left to the discretion of the champion franchise. "Yes, wealthy teams will have that advantage," Mondragon pointed out. "But we have to live with that." Salud, however, said that players currently receiving the maximum pay of P350,000 will not automatically get a pay hike. There are 15 players listed by the PBA to be recipients of the previous maximum pay. — JVP, GMA News