Taha suspended, fined for punching Rain or Shine import

MANILA, Philippines — Purefoods Star Hotshots big man Yousef Taha was slapped a one-week suspension and a Php 60,000 fine for punching Rain or Shine import Rick Jackson in a tune-up game on Friday, January 23. 

According to a PBA statement, the 6-foot-8 Taha threw 6 punches at “a virtually defenseless” Jackson as they fought for rebounding position in the paint.

(RELATED: Meet the 2015 PBA Commissioner’s Cup imports)

Taha, 26, will miss Purefoods’ first two games in the 2015 PBA Commisioner’s Cup — their opener versus Globalport on Friday, January 30 and an assignment against Alaska on Tuesday, February 3.

Losing Taha compounds things further for an already short and thin Purefoods frontline, which lost young center Ian Sangalang to a knee injury early in the Philippine Cup. 

The team’s import Marqus Blakely, who will play as the Hotshots await Daniel Orton to finish his commitment in the Chinese Basketball Association, is the shortest among all reinforcements at 6-foot-5.

Taha, who was traded to the Hotshots late in the 2014 Governors’ Cup, stepped up in the absence of Sangalang and has averaged 7 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists so far for coach Tim Cone. – Rappler.com