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Pre-PBA Draft drama as MPBL's Manila Stars claim Kent Salado has 'live contract' with them

Kent Salado is said to be still under contract with the Manila Stars. PBA Media Group (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—With a couple of hours left before the PBA Draft, some drama just ensued between one draft applicant and his former club.

The MPBL's Manila Stars claimed that Kent Salado is under contract with the team contrary to what he said when he applied for the draft of the top tier league.

"Mr. Michael Kent Salado... happens to have a live contract with our team, Manila Stars-Frontrow, effective until the end of the MPBL Lakan Season," Roman Ang, the team owner of Manila, said in a letter sent to the PBA office in Quezon City on Thursday. Dugout Philippines obtained a copy of the letter on Sunday.

Ang's letter added, "It came to our attention that he filed for the upcoming PBA Draft and listed with 'no live contract'."

A recent ruling by PBA legend and current MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes bars active MPBL players from joining the PBA so not to disrupt the ongoing season.

However, some players like Caloocan Supremo Almond Vosotros got away with the said ruling and still got to play in the PBA because of a release clause included in their contracts prior to the imposing of the new rule. The Stars' main gunners, Cris Bitoon and Aris Dionisio, were cleared by the team to join the draft.

In the case of Salado, who is expected to be selected in the first round of the regular draft, Ang further claimed that the former Arellano standout has never honored his contract with Manila.

"As of writing, Mr. Salado has not yet reported to any of our team functions, practices, and games. That is even if after we took care of his allowances, injury rehabilitation, and plane tickets to and from his province," Ang's letter further said.

He then hinted, "The continuous blatant failure to comply on his end of the contract will force us to take legal action."

(Update as of 6:30 p.m.: Dugout Philippines tried to get the side of Salado, but as per his fellow Ginebra draftee Arvin Tolentino, he quickly left Robinson's Place Manila after the draft.)

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno