Allowing Kiefer Ravena to play in Japan while still under contract a ‘negative’ move for PBA — chairman

As far as the PBA leadership is concerned, allowing Kiefer Ravena to see action in the Japan B.League could cause more harm than good.

On Wednesday, June 2, the Shiga Lakestars announced through social media posts that the NLEX guard had signed a deal to suit up for them under the Asian Player Quota rule—a move that league commissioner Willie Marcial quickly thumbed down since Ravena still has an active contract with the Road Warriors.

Currently, the second-generation baller is still bound by a three-year Uniform Players’ Contract with NLEX and PBA, making him ineligible to compete in leagues not sanctioned by the professional league itself.

But while the PBA officials acknowledge the legal implications of the issue, league chairman and Talk ‘N Text governor Ricky Vargas stressed that allowing the 27-year-old Ravena to play in the prestigious B.League could set a negative precedence for PBA.

“It was a discussion, it was not a one-minute decision and the board, in all its wisdom, looked at all the possible scenarios and also the risks of these scenarios,” Vargas said in a virtual press conference Saturday.

“And we came out with this decision that it is best that we follow strictly the policy of not breaking contracts as we felt that there were more negatives if we allow such to happen.”

“It is such a big precedent, even in amateur sports where movement of players are subject to the rules of the league. When you talk about UAAP and NCAA, they talk about sit-out periods,” he said. “That's the consequence of making a handshake.”

Vargas, though, clarified that barring Ravena was not an easy decision on their part.

He said the PBA is set to send out a letter addressed to the Japanese ballclub informing its management that Ravena is still in a pact with NLEX and therefore should honor it.

“It was very difficult for us, the officers of the PBA, to sit through this discussion as well,” Vargas explained.

But Vargas, along with Marcial and vice chairman Bobby Rosales, stood firm on their decision that Ravena should stay put in the PBA.

“This is a final decision. A letter to the B.League is intended exactly how we communicated it with you guys,” Vargas added.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News