Weighty issue: Buenafe's contract with Alaska has body fat clause

Incoming PBA rookie Ryan Buenafe has already came to terms with the Alaska Aces, but the 6-foot-2 wingman will have to watch his weight if he wants to be paid the full amount of his contract.

After getting selected eighth overall in the pro league rookie draft in a move that caught many armchair observers by surprise, Buenafe inked a two-year deal--roughly worth more than P3 million--with the Aces and it won't be handed on a silver platter.

In a phone interview with Yahoo! Philippines on Saturday afternoon, player agent Matthew Manotoc disclosed the Aces are bent on helping Buenafe deal with his weight issues that have hounded him since his checkered career with Ateneo in the UAAP.

Manotoc bared Buenafe currently has "27 percent body fat, which is obviously very high," something the Aces intend to address quickly in order for the Cavite native to keep in step with his rivals in the pro ranks.

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Alaska wants Buenafe "to lessen his body fat down to 20 percent in the first three months and eventually to 16 percent--which is ideal for him--by season's end," according to Manotoc.

"His first year (in the contract) is already secured but the second year will depend on how he fares in his rookie year. They want to see improvement and slimming down on Ryan's part," added Manotoc.

To reach that goal, Manotoc added Buenafe "is now dieting and doing extra cardiovascular workouts. After every practice, he's going straight to the (stationary) bike to further sweat it out."

Picked ahead of fellow Ateneans Justin Chua (10th) and Nico Salva (11th), former Adamson ace Alex Nuyles (9th) and University of Santo Tomas star Jeric Teng (12th), Buenafe is projected by Alaska head coach Luigi Trillo "as one of the team's pillar in the future and he feels Ryan can eventually replace aging veterans Dondon Hontiveros and Tony Dela Cruz," according to Manotoc.

Although he refused to disclose the exact amount of Buenafe's contract, Manotoc stressed "we are satisfied with the deal and I think Ryan has a monthly salary worthy for an eighth pick."