PBA coaches approve salary cut

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) coaches threw their full support behind the league’s decision of slashing their monthly salary by 20 percent due to the suspension brought by the coronavirus pandemic.

Yeng Guiao of NLEX, Chot Reyes of TNT Tropang Giga and Johnedel Cardel of Terrafirma said they understand the decision since the business climate is at its worst due to the tight quarantine measures in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Guiao said accepting the salary deduction is their contribution to their teams who have been supporting them for the past 16 months of pandemic.

“I think considering the circumstances, the majority agreed that it’s a necessary step to help in contributing to the sacrifices of the league,” said Guiao, one of the league’s most senior mentors.

“That’s understandable because for the past 16 months, they have been supporting us.”

In a memorandum released by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, there would be a 20 percent paycut among all players, team managers and league personnel while the pandemic is at its peak.

Marcial said the regular salary will only be reinstated once the government formally allows them to hold scrimmigaes that would pave the way for the opening of the league’s 46th season.

After all, the league has been suffering the economic pinch brought by the pandemic after losing P30 million for every month of suspension last year aside from the P65 million it spent for the staging of the bubble tourney in Clark, Pampanga.

Guiao said he understands the belt-tightening measures and they are willing to give up a portion of their salaries just to make sure that the league will maintain its financial status.

Reyes and Cardel agreed, saying that this is their way of giving it back to a league that had done so much to them since the country suffered this massive health crisis last year.

“That’s what it is,” Cardel said. “We are all suffering from this pandemic and we have to thank them because for the past 16 months, they have been by our side.”

Reyes, meanwhile, said the entire TNT Tropang Giga fully supports the league’s decision.

“All our players and coaches understand and fully support it,” Reyes said.