Macau Black Knights coach Garrett Kelly said he totally understands the decision of Maltese big man Sam Deguara to elect to play for a Taiwan squad in the P.League+.
Kelly shared his sentiment following Deguara’s move not to reinforce the Black Knights in the PBA Commissioner's Cup where the foreign squad serves as a guest team.
Originally, he was tapped to be one of two foreign reinforcements for the Black Knights, along with Tony Mitchell, until the Maltese giant decided to play for the Yankey Ark in Taiwan.
“At the end of the day, professional basketball players are independent contractors and they got to go where the money is,” said Kelly following Wednesday night’s brief press conference just before Macau made its PBA debut versus Converge at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
The Macau head coach said the 7-foot-6 big man out of Malta, got a “big paycheck” from Yankey Ark.
The 34-year-old Deguara has played three games so far in the P.League+ where he averaged 16.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Deguara has made Asia his home after playing professionally in the region since 2017.
While he has played for Asian countries like Thailand, Macau, Hong Kong, Japan and even the Philippines through Alab Pilipinas-San Miguel in the defunct Asean Basketball League, Deguara had stint in Taipei, having suited up for teams like Taipei Fubon Braves, TaiwanBeer HeroBears, and the Tainan TSG Ghosthawks.
“At the end of the day, he got to go where the money is best, the situation is best. He went and I wish him the best,” said Kelly.
“Their (player) career has a short span of their life. If you’re lucky it's 10 years, if you’re really lucky, more than 10 years. In reality, it’s as long as your body holds on. And Sam has one of the largest bodies on earth for a basketball player.”
Before his latest move to Taiwan, Deguara reinforced Macau for the past two years, including the East Asia Super League (EASL) Home and Away Season 3.
Initially, he was expected to be one of two imports the Black Knights will be fielding in the PBA until he decided to play in Taiwan instead.
Mitchell has taken De Guara’s spot, with the 6-foot-4 Oscar Lopez, who served previously as one of five naturalized players for the Cambodia national team in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, now acting as the other Macau import.
