Kai Sotto and fellow Filipino overseas imports took to social media and expressed their frustration in the ongoing efforts of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the PBA to keep the players within their backyards following the exodus of talents to neighboring leagues in Asia.
The comments from Sotto and former PBA players, now B.League imports Greg Slaughter and Matthew Wright, came at the wake of the SBP not giving clearance to the supposed Korean Basketball League stint of Gilas forward Will Navarro and the visit of the PBA top brass to Japan to discuss possible actions on player transfers.
“I’m sorry but this is crazy,” said Sotto in a tweet. “THIS HAS TO STOP. You got players who’ve been working hard and dreaming to play basketball at the highest level they can reach and we got our own people stopping us from achieving greatness.”
“Even though we might be banned we still represent Pinoy Pride wherever we go,” Wright also tweeted.
Slaughter, meanwhile, didn’t hold back and called out the PBA for its actions which he described as "total BS and crab mentality at its highest."
“TOTAL BS and crab mentality at its highest. The PBA slammed the door on me and my family DAYS BEFORE my daughter was born. I played seven years and publicly made myself available to the NT. Respect the true ethics of the game of basketball and FAIR COMPETITION,” said Slaughter.
Meanwhile, SBP said in a statement that Navarro has to honor his contract with Gilas Pilipinas which lasts until March 2023 and as well as his PBA team NorthPort.
“The SBP respects players' rights to look for greener pastures. But players also need to respect agreements they have entered into with their teams,” SBP said in a statement Sunday, Sept. 18.
“Mr. Navarro has an existing contract to: 1) play for the national team, attend activities, practices, social and business functions and 2) with his undeniable agreement, be assigned to only and no other team or ballclub than his PBA drafting team, the NorthPort Batang Pier,” the statement added.
“The SBP does not intend to unduly prevent players from furthering their careers with other teams here or overseas. But it is a fundamental and ethical practice for players to honor their existing contracts with their mother teams.”