MANILA, (PNA) – The players involved in the bench-clearing fight in a game between San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort last Wednesday have been slapped with a total of P170,000 fine and games suspensions.
In a decision released by the office of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Chito Salud on Friday, Kelly Nabong of Global Port has been meted out with two-game suspension and P60,000 fine for attacking import Marqus Blakely and exchange blows with Marc Pingris.
Pingris, one of the heroes of the recent successful bid of the Philippine Team to reach FIBA World championship for the first time in 35 years, has also been slapped with two-game suspension and P60,000 fine for engaging Nabong in an exchange of blows.
GlobalPort’s Marvin Hayes is fined P20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct, equivalent to a flagrant foul penalty 2,for elbowing and kneeing import Blakely on the floor after a foul had already been called.
Joe Devance is suspended for one game and fined P30,000 for triggering the commotion that led to the fight between Nabong and Pingris.
Salud said the Asia’s first professional basketball league won’t condone any fighting on the court.
”There is absolutely no justification for our players to get involved in fistfights. Strong emphasis is being placed on this policy so much so that those who dare to trigger fights will be dealt with accordingly,” Salud said.
With this, he said it should be clear to everyone that instigators, hotheads and troublemakers have no place in the PBA and will be dealt with severely.
”Instigators also deserve special mention, especially those not even directly involved in the immediate action. They too will have to bear a heavy price for their act,” Salud said.
”Finally, I want to remind our players that long after sanctions have been served, your overall conduct’s impression on our youth will continue to last. Be more circumspect in the future. Our players’ responsibility of role modelling, particularly to our youth, is sacrosanct in the PBA,” he added.
The Office of the Commissioner came out with the decision after meeting with the players involved and the players issued apology for their actions.