By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Bacolod City of Smiles is reportedly encountering financial problems with just 11 matches into their campaign in the 2024 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) Season.
Watchmen Daily Journal learned from a source yesterday that almost half of Bacolod City’s roster has already departed the team after not receiving their salaries for the last four months.
This was also the reason why only six players — namely Danny Marilao, Ian Pardo, Jamel Ramos, John Matthew Manalang, Nichole Ubalde, and Salvador Galit — suited up during Bacolod City’s lopsided 115-64 loss to the Abra Weavers on Monday night, June 3.
“Actually, last month pa lang nagsimula na mag-uwian [sa Bacolod] ‘yung ibang mga homegrown players nila dahil hindi nga sila nakakatanggap ng sweldo nila,” the source said.
“Tapos, recently lang, may mga nag-uwian uli, same reason pa din, hindi nila natatanggap ‘yung salaries nila,” he said.
“Nakailang follow-up na sila, wala pa din, kaya bumitaw na sila,” he added.
A former Bacolod City of Smiles player, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the majority of the team’s players have already left the squad recently due to delayed salaries.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko, mga three to four months ‘yung delay. Sa akin kasi medyo late na ‘yung dating ko sa team, kaya mga two months siguro ‘yung hindi nila naibigay sa akin,” he said.
“Pero iba naman ‘yung reason ko kaya ako umalis ng team. I have to focus on my other plans in life, but same pa din, it is frustrating pa din na hindi nakukuha ng players ‘yung pinaghirapan nila,” he added.
Prior to the start of the season, Bacolod City put up a promising lineup, led by playing head coach Alex Cabagnot, Brian Cabagnot, Rashawn McCarthy, and Louie Vigil, but none of them had suited up or made an appearance for the squad in 11 games.
Last season, the same Bacolod City franchise was also hounded with issues as some of their players and coaching staff were slapped with an indefinite ban by the MPBL for alleged involvement in game-fixing./ASC, WDJ