PBA no issue with excused player absence inside bubble

FILE – NLEX’s Cyrus Baguio hits the weight room during the Road Warriors’ training session. Baguio, though, won’t be joining the Road Warriors inside the PBA bubble restart in Clark, Pampanga to prioritize his business venture. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines — PBA commissioner Willie Marcial has no qualms about players opting out of the bubble restart in Clark, Pampanga for as long as they have the go-signal from their respective teams.

NLEX veterans Larry Fonacier and Cyrus Baguio have decided to skip the season resumption in Clark and both have already secured permission from their head coach Yeng Guiao.

“If the teams are okay with it, then it’s okay with me,” said league commissioner Willie Marcial in Filipino during a Zoom press conference on Thursday. “They had an agreement so that’s why he was allowed to skip.”

Fonacier won’t be with NLEX inside the bubble due to family reasons while Baguio is reportedly skipping the conference as well to prioritize his business venture.

Marcial warned there will be sanctions for players who will skip the restart without getting due approval from their teams.

“You’re under contract with your teams so if they’re okay with you skipping then it’s fine,” said Marcial.

“That’s okay with us in the Commissioner’s Office. The problem is if you weren’t allowed to sit the restart out and you decided to not go to Clark, then we’ll have to talk.”