Trinidad, who received a formal letter from PBA Commissioner Noli Eala yesterday, said all he could do was to communicate PBA’s request to the players but their attendance in the said affair lies mainly on the decision of the team management.
He said that three teams — Welcoat Paints, Dazz Dishwashing Liquid and ICTSI — are planning to leave Friday for the PBL Saturday game in Lucena City.
Among those who might not be able to show up in the Draft Camp are Romel Adducul, Eddie Laure, Ronald Tubid, ICTSI’s Reynel Hugnatan, Bruce Dacia and Dazz’ Cyrus Baguio and Hubert John Ferriols.
"Never would the PBL prevent them (players) from pursuing their future professional careers. However, PBA’s invitation came too late in the day that it would disrupt their schedules with their mother teams," explained Trinidad.
"Pwede ko silang pakiusapan, but the final decision lies with their respective teams. I would just like to request na sana wag nilang patawan ng sanction itong mga players na may valid reason why they can’t show up at the Draft Camp," he added.
"Siguro, puwede i-sanction ng PBA yung mga players na walang valid reason bakit di sila nagpakita sa Draft Camp."
Trinidad said he had talked to the Welcoat management, which may allow Adducul, Laure and Tubid to show up in the affair. Dazz has not yet given any assurance while ICTSI told Trinidad that the management is willing to pay whatever sanction PBA may impose on its draft hopefuls since the team plans to leave for Lucena after their 3-5 p.m. practice on Friday.
Eala, in his letter to Trinidad, said that rest assured, the PBA "shall respect any prior commitments which the PBL players have in the enforcement of league policy with respect to the Rookie Camp. We would like to reassure the PBL that, like in the past, we have no intentions of disrupting the remaining calendar of your present season."