PBA Releases Sanctions for Players Involved in San Mig Coffee-GlobalPort Brawl

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Yesterday, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud met with the board members of the PBA and the five players involved in a fight-marred game between San Mig Coffee Mixers and GlobalPort Batang Pier to discuss the sanctions to be meted on the concerned players. The players in question are Joe Devance, Marqus Blakely and Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee Mixers and Kelly Nabong and import Marvin Hayes of GlobalPort Batang Pier.

This morning, the PBA has officially released the sanctions to be imposed on the players who went on a melee during a highly physical game. The sanctions are as follows:

Marvin Hayes

- Fined PhP 20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct equivalent to a flagrant foul penalty 2 when he elbowed and kneed San Mig Coffee Mixers import Marqus Blakely after a foul has been whistled

Joe Devance

- Fined PhP 30,000 and will be meted a one-game suspension for triggering the commotion that caused the fist fight between Marc Pingris and Kelly Nabong

Kelly Nabong

- Fined PhP 60,000 and will be meted two-game suspension for attacking San Mig Coffee Mixers import Marqus Blakely and exchanging blows with Marc Pingris

Marc Pingris

- Fined PhP 60,000 for fighting and engaging in an exchange of blows with Kelly Nabong of GlobalPort Batang Pier, also meted a two-game suspension

According to the PBA officials, the league will not condone fighting regardless of the players' justification for such actions. The league officials and the commissioner has also reiterated that they place high importance on this policy and have a reminder for those who attempt to engage in such behavior in the future because they will be dealt with accordingly.

"It should be clear to everyone that instigators, hotheads and troublemakers have no place in the PBA and will be dealt with severely," notes the official league statement on the matter.

PBA Refs Blamed Amidst the Brawl at Wednesday's Game

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In less than 24 hours since the brawl in Wednesday's action in the PBA, the referees are once again in hot water and at the front and center of the controversy. Earlier this week, Mark Caguio got slapped with a PhP 20,000 fine for tweeting about the lapses in the officiating during their Sunday match versus Alaska Aces. But with the heated game between San Mig Coffee Mixers and GlobalPort Batang Pier, which eventually ended up to several players blowing off steam and punches being thrown, they [PBA referees] are once again being blamed for why the series of events ended up being as bad as it did.

According to San Mig Coffee Mixers head coach Tim Cone, who was amongst those who physically restrained GlobalPort's Kelly Nabong, he felt that the referees are at fault because "they didn't make calls three or four times that Marvin (Hayes) and Marqus (Blakely) fell to the floor." He further added, "[they] lost control of the game there".

Tim Cone also noted how physical the game was and there were a lot of contacts that were let go. Eventually, it was a matter of time until tempers flare and the scuffle between Marvin Hayes and Marqus Blakely at the 3:11 mark of the third quarter was only the tipping point.

Five players (Marc Pingris, Joe Devance, and Marqus Blakely of San Mig Coffee Mixers and Kelly Nabong and Marvin Hayes of GlobalPort Batang Pier) were required to show up at the Commissioner's Office today wherein the PBA officials will discuss the events of Wednesday night's game, as well as give the players an opportunity to explain their side during the incident. However, PBA Commissioner Salud had already promised that there will be heavy sanctions to be meted on the players involved. The announcement of the officials sanctions on the concerned parties will be revealed within the day when the PBA board officials are done with their meeting.

For Kelly Nabong's side, however, GlobalPort team owner Romero has his support. In fact, he promised to pay for Nabong's fine and even commended the rookie's action during the game noting that he will not allow his team to be "bullied". Romero, however, did not expound on who he thinks should be blamed for the fracas.

Going back to Tim Cone's side of things, he believed that the end is still far. His team will face the consequences of what is to come from Pingris' actions during the game, wherein he anticipates suspensions being slapped on some of his key players. With the Governor's Cup being a short conference, he knows that they need all the manpower they can get to help his team's campaign.

Be sure to check us back for updates on the sanctions on the concerned players.