The dispute in Hawkins’ playing contract has been elevated to the league board as FedEx appealed for the reversal of the PBA Commissioner’s Office decision ordering the ball club to honor an obligation to Hawkins for the next two years although the player is no longer playing.
If no compromise agreement between the two parties is arrived at, the board is likely to decide the case in a balloting. A two-thirds vote of the board – seven in this case minus the votes of FedEx and two of four SMC ball clubs – is needed for a verdict.
The big question is whether the Fernando Poe Jr. magic works in this case. Hawkins reportedly talked to the movie king, his godfather, to lobby for him with the San Miguel group.
"Narinig ko yang balitang iyan but I’m confident the board will decide on it based on merits," said FedEx board representative Lito Alvarez, who added he’ll excuse himself when the board tackles the issue in the Monday meeting. — Nelson Beltran