Technical fouls rain on Alaska vs Globalport PBA semis Game 2

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Emotions riled up as early as the opening period as PBA officials slapped 13 technical fouls on personnel from both Alaska and Globalport in Game 2 of their best-of-7 semifinals series in the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup on Wednesday, January 6.

After a lengthy deliberation, referees assessed technicals on players, coaches, a team manager, and team governors following scuffle that threatened to turn into an all-out bench-clearing brawl with 52.6 seconds left in the first quarter.

Amid early physicality, the fracas started when Alaska guard Dondon Hontiveros fell to the floor taking Globalport forward Anthony Semerad with him.

Aces forward Calvin Abueva came to lift Hontiveros up but in the process he bumped into big man Jay Washington, who was likewise helping Semerad up.

Semerad fell back down on the floor and Washington promptly pushed Abueva and a shoving match ensued as referees came in between the players.

Team officials from both sides were also on the floor trying to intervene, including coaches and team governors.

Technical fouls were handed out to Abueva, Manuel, Hontiveros, Washington, and Semerad – all for second motion.

While Globalport team governor Erick Arejola, team manager Bonnie Tan, and head coach Pido Jarencio were also whistled for technicals for entering the court.

On the side of Alaska, head coach Alex Compton, assistant coaches Louie Alas, Monch Gavieres, and Jeff Cariaso, as well as team governor Dickie Bachmann were likewise slapped with technicals for entering the court.

PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa quickly stormed onto the court to try and pacify the situation, reprimanding Hontiveros, who was being restrained by Alas.

The current record for total number of technical fouls in a game is 16, per league statistician Fidel Mangonon III. This was in a 1997 game between Alaska and Shell in the Governors’ Cup. Narvasa was the coach for Shell at the time.

Earlier in the day, the PBA Commissioner’s Office fined Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and center Beau Belga P20,000 each for another altercation during their semifinal opener against San Miguel Beer on Tuesday, January 5.

Also fined were Jericho Cruz and Raymond Almazan of Rain or Shine, and San Miguel’s Yancy de Ocampo and Chriss Ross. Their fines totaled P5,800.

Alaska overpowered Globalport 100-76 to even the series at 1-1 with technical fouls totalling 16. – Rappler.com