(As a side note, the Metropolitan Basketball Association once charged “developmental fees” when a PBA team fancied one of its players.) In sports like football, rugby, volleyball and most recently women’s basketball, Filipinos play at very high standards in Asia, Europe and Australia. In the 1960’s, the National Basketball Association had a rule that a player could only be drafted four years after graduating from high school. Coveted but underaged Spencer Haywood (later a five-time NBA All-Star and champion with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980) was being recruited into the rival American Basketball Association as well as the Seattle Supersonics. Haywood went to court, arguing that it was the only way he could support his family.

Source: Philippine Star June 06, 2021 15:56 UTC