THOUGHTS | MUYANG'S INDEFINITE BAN

And just like that, one door opened for Larry Muyang—but another slammed shut when the PBA ruled that he had breached his contract with Phoenix. I get it—Muyang’s numbers will look better in the MPBL. He’ll likely have more financial opportunities, especially if he's no longer tied to a PBA deal.

But the reality is, he’s still under contract until the end of May.

That puts Pampanga and even Muyang himself in a vulnerable spot. Other MPBL teams could easily use this situation against him if things go sideways or if the Giant Lanterns start catching heat.

Apparently, personal matters played a role in Larry Muyang’s decision to suit up for a Ligang Labas game—and possibly jump ship to a team from a rival league. It’s an unfortunate situation, but more importantly, it sets a dangerous precedent.

There’s a reason why the PBA no longer allows rival brands to coexist within the league—it’s all about avoiding conflicts of interest. Sure, Sarsi and Pepsi don’t taste the same, but they’re still both soft drinks. The same logic applies to brands like Toyota and Honda, Purefoods and Swift, or even San Miguel/Ginebra and Tanduay.

Having Muyang play for Pampanga while still under contract with Phoenix puts the PBA in a vulnerable position. It makes the league appear weaker and undermines its own standards.

The PBA also needs to take into account how the MPBL has essentially taken the wind out of the D-League’s sails. The MPBL offers better financial incentives—even to collegiate players—which has shifted the development pipeline. The D-League, once an essential proving ground, is now mostly populated by college programs preparing for UAAP or NCAA seasons, not PBA feeder teams. Even bench players are now choosing the MPBL over the D-League.

Let’s not forget this is part of why the PBA’s 3x3 program has lost steam, too.

If the PBA lets Muyang walk away from this unscathed, they’re sending a message that players can bounce from league to league without consequence. That’s a slippery slope.

Beyond the whispers of game-fixing and players randomly hopping in and out of rosters, the league still struggles with maintaining a strong sense of professionalism.

Sure, there are MPBL squads—like Pampanga, San Juan, Quezon, Basilan, Batangas, Abra, Nueva Ecija, and GenSan—that are stacked enough to hang with PBA teams. However, truth be told, a lot of teams in the MPBL have sketchy records and inconsistent play.

So, yes, the MPBL is a solid fallback for Muyang. But sooner or later, he’ll need to clean up the mess and figure things out.