PBA Commish Narvasa to hand out fines after semis scuffle

MANILA, Philippines – PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa is expected to hand out fines in the aftermath of an altercation during Game 2 of the 2016 PBA Philippine Cup semifinals between Alaska and Globalport on Wednesday, January 6.

But Narvasa, who is in his first season as league Commissioner, ruled out any suspensions or summons based on the initial review of the scuffle in-game. 

“There’s going to be fines definitely. But thank God there’s no suspension,” he said. 

“No more (summons). I don’t think so, but that depends really on my review. But mukhang wala naman. Tulakan lang ng tulakan (It doesn’t look like there’s anything there. Just pushing and shoving). They played well. In other words, they moved on.”

The Commissioner was reviewing the footage as of noon on Thursday, January 7, before deciding on the fines, according to league media bureau chief Willie Marcial.

A total of 13 technical fouls were handed out in that instance alone when a shoving match broke out towards the end of the opening period involving Alaska’s Dondon Hontiveros, Calvin Abueva, Vic Manuel, and Globalport’s Jay Washington and Anthony Semerad.

 

Players involved were assessed technicals for second motion, while team officials who came to help stop the commotion were slapped technical fouls for entering the court.

The Commissioner personally tried to pacify players and was seen reprimanding and pointing a finger at Hontiveros with Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas in between them urging the player to go back to the bench.

“Ang akin doon is prevention. Iniisip ko rito kung inaawat nung referee e hindi maawat e. Nag-escalate nga, so papasok ako. Kasi pag nakita nila ako doon baka mag-isip, bakit nandiyan si Comm? Walang mag-aaway,” Narvasa said, explaining why he felt the need to personally enter the court. 

(For me, it was about prevention. I was thinking the referee tried to restrain them but that wasn’t working. It escalated so I went in. I thought if they saw me there they might consider why the Commissioner is there. So nobody will fight.) 

“Can you imagine kung nag-away, nag-suntukan, I have to suspend people. E kung kulang-kulang kayo, hindi magiging maganda laban.”

(Can you imagine if there were a brawl, a fist fight? I have to suspend people. Then the teams will not be complete, and it would not be a good match.)

“I also have to prevent any escalation. E may tension na e. Nagkakaasaran na. Natapos naman. Wala naman incident afterwards. (There was already tension. They were getting on each other’s nerves. But it ended and there was no incident afterwards),” he added. 

Hontiveros, for his part, said he had no hard feelings toward Washington and Narvasa, who stopped Hontiveros from approaching Washington to make peace as the scuffle broke apart.

“I told him just go back to your bench. I think he wanted to talk to JWash who is his friend and explain. So I told him at that time you couldn’t because nobody might understand. It’s like you’re confronting him. Sabi ko sa kaniya (I told him), you wait,” Narvasa explained. 

“Right after, they talked to each other. Sabi ko sa kaniya (I told him) that’s the way to do it. You cool things first off and then it’s so easy to talk afterwards. And I think he understood.”

Despite the fines he’ll have to hand out, Narvasa sees positive signs in the incident when it comes to following the rules, including one on coaches and team officials not entering the court for any reason. 

“I talked also to the coaches, of course I knew their intention was to prevent. I’m just glad no other players went in, so they’re obeying the rules. And the coaches and officials were there and I’m glad. But we have a rule, that’s why they were called technicals,” he said.

“Hopefully people learn from this. I really don’t like to suspend people. So I reprimand. Pag hindi pa rin sila nadala sa fine, paulit-ulit (If they don’t learn after the fines and they keep repeating it), then I think I have to suspend.” 

Earlier on Wednesday, 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 on Tuesday, January 5.

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

Alaska overpowered Globalport 100-76 to even the series at 1-1 with technical fouls totaling 16, tying the record for most technicals in a game set by Alaska and Shell in the 1997 Governors’ Cup. – Rappler.com