Capacio calls for revival of Players Union amid Mahindra contract row

MANILA, Philippines -- Amid the ongoing contract row involving several players from KIA (now Mahindra), coach Glen Capacio believes PBA stars Asi Taulava, Marc Pingris or even Chris Tiu are all capable of reviving the long-dormant players’ union.

In a hastily-called press conference on Friday, Capacio, who served as playing coach Manny Pacquiao’s assistant last season, said he decided to come out in the open in support of beleaguered Mahindra shooting guard Alex Nuyles, whose newly-signed one-year contract extension was declared invalid by the team’s management.

“Siguro, ito na talaga yung time na magka-players association kasi ang daming kawawang players ngayon. Eh itong team na ito (referring to Mahindra), walang pangalan (ang mga players) so kawawa ang mga players,” the 51-year-old Capacio told media men.

Capacio mentioned that today’s generation of players should realize that reviving the players’ union will be beneficial in the long run, especially since the association could help defray academic costs for their kids.

“Ako, napapakinabangan ko ang scholarship sa PBA kasi ngayon binibigay nila (players association fund), P25,000. Malaking tulong pa rin yun. Simula nung mag-high school yung gitna (middle child) ko, si Mikee,” explained Capacio, whose eldest, Gwynne, currently plays for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Asked what made him consider Taulava, Pingris and Tiu as the best players to handle the players’ union, the former Far Eastern University coach felt the three have the leadership qualities that could serve the PBA players well.

“Si Asi, kapag nagsalita ka, makikinig ka. Leader siya eh,” he said.
“Pero sa homegrown naman, si Pingris puwede saka si Chris Tiu, kasi matalino saka di naman niya iisipin pa yung pera diyan.”

Capacio, who currently serves as consultant for the Letran Knights, also said he still has a pending labor case against the Mahindra management after terminating him unfairly last January.

He contained that the Enforcers management actually offered a buy-out, where he will just be paid three out of the 19 months remaining from his 26-month contract.

“Ang contract ko, may 19 months pa na existing, till August 2016. Eh nakiusap sila (Mahindra management), pero ang gusto nilang ibigay is three months lang. Eh kung ikaw ba, papayag ka?” said Capacio, who has a labor hearing on Oct. 8 at the National Labor Relations Commission in Banawe, Quezon City regarding his contract with Mahindra.

“Parang sampal naman sa akin yun kasi sa tagal ko na naglalaro, wala namang isang coach na tinanggal dahil di lang umaten ng meeting,” added Capacio.

An eight-time All-Defensive team member during his heydays, Capacio said he was surprised to receive a memorandum for failing to attend two team meetings, which originally run in conflict with his duty as coach.

He would have wanted to talk with Pacquiao last December, but the Filipino boxing icon’s busy schedule prevented them from meeting up.

“Hindi ko lang alam bakit takot na takot sila (Mahindra team manager Eric Pineda) nag makausap ko si boss Manny (Pacquiao). Eh baka nga natatakot sila na may alam kami,” he said.