Four months later, the 5-foot-8 guard has been relegated to the sidelines along with 15 other teammates, joining the growing number of unemployed Filipinos, a casualty of Barako Bull’s failure to make a dent in the highly-competitive energy drink market.

Of the 18 Barako Bull players offered in the dispersal draft last Monday, only forward Lordy Tugade and guard Pong Escobal were tabbed by San Miguel Beer and B-Meg Derby Ace, respectively. Hermida, along with veteran center Marlou Aquino and Fil-Am Rob Wainwright, plus 13 others, were snubbed by the rest of the teams, stranding their careers.

Hermida’s contract with the Energy Boosters gives him a monthly take of no less than P50,000. Barako Bull is mandated to pay him until July 31, when his contract expires. That should be enough to tide him over until he finds a new team, or lands a slot with any squad competing in the Developmental League set to start next month.

There’s a catch, though. Hermida, 22, doesn’t know when his next paycheck is coming. In fact, he doesn’t even know if Barako Bull will pay him back wages close to P100,0000 representing his salary from December last year and January this year.

"After naming mag-champion (in the NCAA), talagang mataas ang expectations ko na magtatagal ako sa paglalaro sa PBA. Kaso, ‘yung nangyari ngayon ay kabaligtaran. Disaster talaga," Hermida told Malaya/Business Insight in an interview.

The contracts of Tugade and Escobal have been absorbed by the Beermen and Llamados, respectively. Along with Hermida, Aquino, and Wainwright, also left undrafted were Jojo Duncil, Dennis Daa, Chad Alonzo, Richard Yee, Marvin Cruz, Ken Bono, Paulo Hubalde, Aris Dimaunahan, Mark Andaya, Chris Canta, Bruce Viray, Jason Misolas, and Khazim Mirza.

Barako Bull took a leave of absence for the Commissioner’s Cup "to rebuild," as team owner George Chua initially told the PBA Board, its spot given to Smart-Gilas which will play as a guest squad. Recent reports indicated, however, the Energy Boosters have no plans to make a comeback in the third conference, with Chua reportedly opting to concentrate on his other business interests.

Until Chua makes it official, however, Hermida and his undrafted teammates can’t play for any team until after their contracts expire.

"Hindi pa ako puwedeng sumali sa ibang liga dahil may contract pa ako. Ang best choice talaga ay makapaglaro muna sa D-League. Kung suswertihin, baka may PBA team na kumuha sa akin," said Hermida.

Chua has an option to sell the franchise, a possibility that Hermida welcomed.

"Malungkot siyempre dahil hindi ako makakalaro ng ilang buwan," Hermida said. "Sana lang, kung hindi na sila sasali ulit sa PBA, ibenta na lang nila ang franchise para magkaroon ulit kami ng trabaho."

Hermida, who had a stellar five-year collegiate career with the Red Lions, punctuated by four title conquests, played in just six games in his rookie stint with Barako, averaging 2.2 points a game, 1.5 rebounds and .7 assists while averaging 11.5 minutes a game, figures that don’t necessarily attract the attention of top-ranked teams.

While waiting for further developments, Hermida intends to take his game to the D-League to keep himself in top shape and hope for the best.

"Maaaring malas lang talaga tayo ngayon pero naniniwala pa rin ako kay God na may better plans siya para sa akin. Hopefully muli akong makakapag-laro sa PBA dahil pangarap ko talaga ito," he concluded.

Jerome Lagunzad, Business Malaya Insight