Future unrestricted free agents will only choose among 2 to 3 teams, says Yeng Guiao

Yeng Guiao believes that the PBA’s newly instituted unrestricted free agency rule will play a significant role in league parity judging from the first few signings after it took effect early this year.

During a Zoom In episode of SPIN.ph, the 62-year old head coach of NLEX renewed his call for a strict adherence to the salary cap as it would ensure that future UFAs would be not be restricted to chose from only the richer teams.

Guiao stressed that while the effects of the UFA would not be felt immediately, it would, however, have an adverse impact on the future if not addressed by the league in a timely manner.

“Not right away. Pero after na-implement na natin itong UFA, and this is the first year, makikita mo na ‘yung trend at direction,” said Guiao.

“So in three, four, five years, makikita mo na kung saan ang ano. The effect does not happen instantly. The effect will happen after three, four, five years kasi ‘yung mga susunod na magagaling na players, makikita mo na kung saan sila magpupunta.”

League commissioner Willie Marcial earlier disclosed that the rule, which was conceptualized during the time of former chairman Ely Capacio, is still subject to revisions if proven to have negative repercussions.

Guiao, however, doesn’t see the need to wait any further as the writing is already on the wall.

“’Yung mga next year na unrestricted free agent, saan ba mapupunta ‘yun. ‘Yung sa susunod na taon na unrestricted free agent, saan ba mapupunta ‘yan. So ito pa lang ‘yung kumbaga paramdaman pa lang ito. Kumbaga sa baraha, napipintahan pa lang natin ngayon. Pero makikita mo na kung saan direksyon pupunta ito,” said the former national team mentor.

“This is not going to happen instantly. Mararamdaman natin itong problema na ‘to na three, four, five years down the line, na makikita natin na lahat ng unrestricted free agent, nasa dalawa o tatlong team na lang,” he added.