MANILA, Philippines–PBA free agents and incoming rookies will be slapped with a three-year ban if they decide to take their act not just overseas but also in other domestic leagues under new guidelines that were approved recently.

Sources confirmed the stricter measures that will affect those who were offered new deals by their mother ballclubs and incoming rookies with tender offers by teams that selected them in the Draft in a way to curb the player exodus that has affected the league.

READ: PBA: William Navarro leaves Magnolia for Busan KCC Egis in KBL

The past few days have seen Barangay Ginebra’s Jamie Malonzo leave for Japan’s B.League side Kyoto Hannaryz and Magnolia’s William Navarro completing his move to South Korea for KBL club Busan KCC Egis.

NorthPort’s Arvin Tolentino left in the middle of the Philippine Cup to sign with the KBL’s Seoul SK Knights.

Several players have also jumped ship to the MPBL after their respective contracts expired, namely Vic Manuel and Allyn Bulanadi who are now with Pangasinan, Aldrech Ramos with San Juan, and Larry Muyang for Pampanga.

Muyang was actually banned by the league last April after Phoenix claimed that he still has a live contract when he made the switch.

Dave Ildefonso also opted to play for Abra in the regional league after failing to secure an agreement with NorthPort, which selected him sixth overall in last year’s Draft.

READ: Jamie Malonzo’s Japan B.League move no surprise to Tim Cone

Commissioner Willie Marcial, who is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia serving as among the officials of Gilas Pilipinas in the Fiba Asia Cup, was not available for comment.

The PBA first implemented a rule in 2021 that gave those heading abroad a two-year period to eventually return to the league, before having to go through a “sitout period” for the next three seasons if they decide to stay.

That has not prevented players from accepting offers elsewhere, given the reported large sum of money being offered by Japanese and Korean clubs to be their Asian imports.

The MPBL, meanwhile, has also become another option for several players in recent seasons.