Probe up on all PBA teams

The PBA Commissioner’s Office will make an all-out effort to investigate not only Tanduay but other PBA teams which might be involved in the violation of the salary cup rule in the league beginning Monday with veteran pro Pido Jarencio whose alleged side-contract sparked the controversy.

PBA operations director Richard Palou said they will begin their investigation with Tanduay with the ballclub reported to have made an irregular deal with Jarencio.

Palou said other Tanduay players will also be summoned later, hoping that they help shed light on the controversy.

"We’ll conduct a thorough investigation. We’ll investigate all the teams one at a time, doing it slowly and silently. We’ve been hearing these allegations before. Hopefully, we can catch those violating the rules if there are any," said Palou.

"We have a big reward for anybody who can help us catch any team violating the salary cap rule. Who knows, somebody might be willing to come out to give information," added Palou.

Any team caught violating the salary cap rule will lose its share from the league’s TV earnings for the season. A certain percent of it goes to anybody who helps the league pinpoint the violator.

With regards to the Jarencio case, the PBA hopes Pop Cola officials would cooperate in the probe if they do have knowledge of the alleged violation of Tanduay.

"Matagal na kaming nakakarinig ng ganito. If Pop Cola officials don’t cooperate kahit alam nila na may violation, nakakalungkot," said Palou.

Pop Cola officials reportedly found out Tanduay to have a side contract with Jarencio apart from the Uniform Player Contract filed with the PBA after the RFM Corp. franchise acquired the player from the Basic Holdings Inc. ballclub through a trade.

Apparently, Tanduay has settled the problem with Tanduay team manager David de Joya visiting Pop Cola counterpart Elmer Yanga in his office Tuesday.

In an interview with The STAR later on, Yanga insisted he will honor what is only stipulated on Jarencio’s UPC, leaving Tanduay and the player with their problem.