MANILA – Veteran forward Vic Manuel’s demand to be traded out of Alaska Aces ahead of the 2021 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup this April has taken the team management by surprise.
Dickie Bachmann, Alaska’s representative to the PBA Board, said they were stunned by Manuel’s interview with Spin.ph as the management hoped that the player should have just approached them.
Bachmann also denied the statement of Manuel’s manager Danny Espiritu that they have only extended a year on the veteran forward while the offer was supposedly a two-year maximum deal.
“We’re shocked. We offered a two-year, max deal with a clause in his second year,” Bachmann said in an interview with PBA Rush last night. “The best thing they could have done is to talk to the management or coach first before coming out with an article.”
Bachmann also stressed that the Aces management, including head coach Jeffrey Cariaso, will talk to Manuel to clear the situation. They are also willing to grant his trade request if no deal is reached.
“We cannot force naman a player who doesn’t want to play for us. We would like to know so we can all move forward,” he added.
In an interview with Spin.ph on Friday, Manuel said he was saddened by the offer extended by the Aces management adding he wanted to explore other options.
“Kung ganon lang ang gagawin, aalis na lang ako sa kanila,” said the 33-year-old forward.
The former PSBA star spent the last six seasons of his PBA career with the Aces. Prior to that, Manuel played for GlobalPort Batang Pier (now NorthPort Batang Pier), Meralco Bolts and defunct Air21 Express./PN
