Rain or Shine and Montaña Pawnshop have both started laying claim on the top prospect from University of Mindanao a week before the PBL season-opening conference unfolds.
Sources said the league has sent Rain or Shine a letter certifying that it owns the rights to Eman, who last played for the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed RP team before it disbanded last year.
The certification came after Eman’s group sought the help of commissioner Chino Trinidad for clarification on what team he should play for this conference.
"He’s really raring to play in the PBL and he’s confused on what team he should really play for, whether it’s for us Rain or Shine or for Montaña. So he asked the help of the commissioner’s office," said Rain or Shine coach Leo Austria.
Montaña management, however, contested Rain or Shine’s hold on Eman and strongly made an appeal to the PBL early this week.
"We want to make it clear that the Montaña team owners did not ever release Eman to any other team," said newly appointed Montaña manager Jun Abrahan.
"We made an appeal and we’re leaving it up to the commissioner’s office," he added.
According to Austria, he was told that suspended Montaña mentor Robert Sison has given up Eman to Rain or Shine as early as last December.
"I was told he (Sison) released Eman to us last December, he signed a letter to prove it," Austria said.
Sison neither confirmed nor denied this.
Eman first made heads turn several years back when as a UM standout had 10 rebounds and eight blocks in a Battle of Champions game.
His team lost that game but for Eman, not the admiration of some PBL teams including John O, which acquired him four years ago before the team disbanded.