MANILA, Philippines–While every player from Gilas Pilipinas that recently won gold at the Asian Games drew praise for not wanting anything in return, PBA chair Ricky Vargas criticized a national team prospect who “asked for the moon” when called up to play in the continental showcase.
Vargas also said another player was also asking for money in exchange for his services to the national team.
“He was asking for the moon. It’s going to destroy the team. The amount he is asking for is even greater than what we paid for, for our own naturalized player,” said Vargas, who also serves as vice president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, in a press conference at the PBA Office on Monday. “I’d rather not say (who) but he was not the only one. There was another one also asking [for money].”
“I went to Alfrancis (Chua) and coach Tim (Cone). I said we are willing to support you, we are willing to bring this player in. We need this player badly. But this is the amount of money that he wants… then Tim and Alfrancis said no.”
Team manager Alfrancis Chua and coach Tim Cone ended up making the right decision after Gilas delivered the Philippines its first men’s basketball gold in the Asian Games since 1962.
Led by Justin Brownlee, Gilas battled back from 20 points down to stun host China before topping Jordan in the gold medal game.
“Those 12 players, which was actually 16, I called them one by one because we need to practice right away. Not one of those players asked us about how much the pay would be or the allowance. No one,” said Chua in Filipino.