Salud offers assistance on Lee row

MANILA, Philippines - PBA commissioner Chito Salud said his office is ready to arbitrate if Rain or Shine and ace player Paul Lee fail to resolve their issue.

Salud said they would definitely come in if there’s a breach of rule – in this particular case a possible “tampering” by a team trying to lure Lee who still has a live playing contract with Rain or Shine.

In such a case, the league commissioner stressed the PBA will “make sure that the mother team is amply protected.”

“The message is clear – the right of first refusal by a mother team to players is sacred,” Salud said. “Our teams should not be held hostage to a player’s whims and capriciousness.”

Salud understands Rain or Shine has offered Lee a maximum contract of P15.1 million for the next three years. And so he’s also surprised why Lee still wants out of the team.

“I agree with coach Yeng (Guiao) that they must talk and sort this out,” Salud said.

Lee has talked to Guiao, expressing his desire to be traded.

Rain or Shine team owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que said Lee is their franchise player, and that they’re ready to give him away only in exchange for a player of the same value.

They said they want a quality big man.