New PBA rule restricts movement among free agents trying luck elsewhere

Just as Busan made William Navarro's acquisition formal, the PBA revealed the sanction that could await the now former Magnolia forward. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The PBA has introduced a new free agency rule that would control the movement among those who decide to transfer to another league.

In a resolution approved by the league's board of governors, players who refuse to re-sign with their mother teams and pack their bags elsewhere will be disallowed to make a PBA return for three years.

With the motion approved on July 17 and immediately executed the following day, the ban has already affected Jamie Malonzo and William Navarro, who did not re-sign with Ginebra and Magnolia, respectively.

Malonzo recently signed with the Japan B.League team Kyoto Hannaryz, while Navarro on Tuesday joined the KBL squad Busan KCC Egis.

The new rule also applies to those already drafted into the PBA but decided against signing a rookie contract and played elsewhere instead.

This effectively means that, unless he finally reaches an agreement to play with NorthPort right after his stint with Abra is done, MPBL MVP frontrunner Dave Ildefonso will be hit by the ban too.

The ruling could also affect Arvin Tolentino, who signed with KBL runner-up Seoul SK Knights last May.

The three-year ban, though, cannot be imposed if the player is already an unrestricted free agent, either if his mother team decides not to offer him a new tender offer 30 days after his contract expired or if he has played in at least 21 conferences or seven years in the PBA when his current contract expires.