Over two weeks since disgruntled forward Vic Manuel's heart-to-heart talk with Alaska coach Jeffrey Cariaso, the PBA veteran remains unsigned by the Aces.
Alaska team governor Dickie Bachmann though reiterated their desire to re-sign Manuel given his leadership and experience.
But the 6-foot-4 Manuel already made it known publicly through his agent Danny Espiritu that he would rather play for another team at this point.
"I guess he has no choice because we own the rights. And for the organization, if he (Manuel) doesn't really want (to play anymore for Alaska) because he's been telling everyone he doesn't like (to play for us), some teams have been calling, so then we'll look into it," Bachmann told ESPN5 on Monday.
The Alaska team executive stressed that negotiations are still ongoing, but if the team cannot find a trade proposal to their liking, the veteran forward's options are to sit out this coming 2021 season or sign the two-year deal the team offered him.
"He came out (publicly wanting to be traded), that's the problem because he came out in the media," shared Bachmann. "So for us, we're just looking for a win-win deal, that's what we are simply waiting for if ever. Basically just what's gonna be fair for the organization."
Bachmann said if worse comes to worst and Alaska feels the potential trade offers don't appear to be of "equal value", then Manuel will have to decide.
"If there's none (equal value), then he has to decide, come to talk to us again or just sit it out," he said. "The organization will move without him. It's no problem."
Meanwhile, Manuel's representative Danny Espiritu said he is hoping for the best for his ward, given the Alaska forward's desire to simply have "peace of mind" as far as his PBA career is concerned.
"I was actually telling Alaska to sign Vic up since he wants to play for the team because to be honest, I was just wondering why the delay in signing him up when we started asking for an extension as early as August last year?" Espiritu told ESPN5 in Filipino.
"All we wanted is for our player to just have peace of mind, so he won't even have to worry of what might happen to him in the future. That way, Vic can simply give his best for the team," he added.
Based on Bachmann's meeting with Espiritu, the Alaska management offered Manuel a new two-year max deal that includes a "performance clause", which if the Alaska forward can comply with during the season-opening All-Filipino Cup that begins this April, he automatically secures a guaranteed second-year maximum deal.
Bachmann reiterated that the performance clause was already nothing new.
"The two years with clause has been there since his previous contract so I don't know what he's complaining about," said Bachmann.
He added: "We just want to make sure and the coaching staff wants to motivate him to play because he's actually our go-to-guy," he added.
Manuel's old two-year deal expired last Dec. 31. He averaged close to 16 points, six rebounds and over two assists during the recent PBA bubble.