MANILA, Philippines — At least two of 15 players receiving maximum salaries from their PBA teams went home several millions richer following a hugely successful basketball season even as the board of governors approved the other day a 20 percent increase in their salary cap.

Talk ‘N Text’s Kelly Williams and Ranidel de Ocampo walked away with no less than P7 million each after helping the Tropang Texters win two championships and placing second in another conference.

The amount includes both their monthly salaries plus accrued bonuses stipulated from their contracts and guaranteed by the PBA commissioner’s office.

Possible bonuses from winning the championships in the first and second conferences are not included in the total.

Also, the two missed what could have been a P2 million each bonus had the Texters won the grand slam, sources said.

As computed, players with maximum salaries each receive P350,000 a month, or a total of P4.2 million annually.

Williams and de Ocampo got an additional reward of P2.625 million as TNT made it to the semifinals and Finals thrice, and twice winning the championship.

Under cap rules, players – with maximum salary and those below the max – are entitled to get an incentive of one – fourth of their salary for making the quarters, another one-fourth for entering the semifinals, one month for advancing to the Finals and one and a half months if they end up hoisting the championship trophy at the end of a conference.

Mark Caguioa of Barangay Ginebra, the second biggest earner for the season just past, has an annual pay of P4.2 million, and received an additional P525,000 after the Kings made the semifinals in three conferences and another P525,000 for advancing to the Finals in the Commissioner’s Cup.

source: Waylon Galvez -MB