Hawkins willing to end contract dispute

All Bong Hawkins wants right now is to play and resume his basketball career.

If only for that, the cager’s camp is more than willing to enter into a fair and amicable settlement with FedEx, with whom his long-drawn contract dispute has yet to be resolved.

His agent-manager Danny Espiritu, who accompanied the veteran forward in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion, sees the issue coming to an end a week from now, with both parties in a win-win situation.

"We’re very friendly in our talks with FedEx, so in a matter of 10 days matatapos na ito," said Espiritu. "Gustung-gusto na rin naman kasing maglaro ni Bong."

"Ang gusto ko lang naman talaga ay maglaro," Hawkins said. "Kaya mas maganda sigurong may settlement na."

FedEx team manager Lito Alvarez admitted they have resumed talking with Hawkins’ camp after the player wrote a letter signifying his intention to enter into an amicable settlement.

"Mahirap mag-commit dahil iba ang instruction sa akin which is to go the legal way na. But with Danny (Espiritu) around, sabi ko sige I’ll keep an open mind. Ipre-present ko kay (FedEx chairman) Mr. Bert Lina at sa lawyer namin ang proposal nila," said Alvarez.

The subject of dispute is P9.6 million covering the last two years of Hawkins’ contract with Tanduay inherited by FedEx.

Air21, the franchise owner of FedEx, tried to wriggle free from paying the amount by invoking an exit clause contained in a side agreement the player had with Tanduay.

Commissioner Noli Eala and predecessor former league OIC Sonny Barrios, however, ruled that the side agreement was never part of Hawkins’ contract submitted to the Commissioner’s Office, thereby making FedEx liable to pay the former Alaska stalwart the final half of his original four-year contract.

The PBA Board of Governors later upheld the decision of the Commissioner’s Office, forcing Air21 management to seek legal opinion.

But the matter going to court may no longer materialize after Hawkins and Espiritu, through a formal letter submitted to Eala and the league board dated Aug. 14, expressed willingness "to enter into an amicable lump-sum settlement that would be mutually acceptable to FedEx and me."

Espiritu said he and Air21 are working behind the parameter of between P3-5 million.

"It’s more like adding one and subtracting one, so we’re looking of settling at P4 million," said Espiritu in the same forum sponsored by Red Bull, Agfa Colors and PAGCOR.

But Alvarez said they’re not amenable to P4 million. "P3 million ang offer namin. Sinasabi nila ang hinihingi nila P5 million kaya magkita na lang daw sa gitna sa P4 million. Kailangan sabihin nila ang basis nila sa P5 million," said Alvarez.

Now nearing 36, Hawkins, a key component of Alaska’s grand slam team seven years ago, said he still sees himself playing two-to-three more years, with Coca-Cola having a standing offer to him should he be able to settle his case with FedEx.

Inactive for one and a half years now, he said he keeps himself fit by playing pick up games and scrimmaging with former PBA players.

"Tingin ko naman kaya ko pang maglaro ng dalawa hanggang tatlong taon. Kung si (Jose) Ortiz nga, kuwarenta na naglalaro pa, tayo pa kaya," said Hawkins, a product of the University of Perpetual Help-Rizal.