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.

Mark Caguioa Fined for Controversial Tweets

This is not a new tale. Several players and coaches had aired out their sentiments using the famous social media site, Twitter. But Mark Caguioa is one of those few that had captured the PBA officials' attention enough to warrant a fine.

On Sunday, Brgy. Ginebra lost to Alaska Aces despite leading most of the ball game. The Aces staged a run during the latter half of the third quarter and eventually took the lead for the first time in the said game on the fourth quarter. Brgy. Ginebra ended up bowing to the Aces, which means that they are now at 1-3 or second to the last at the team standings.

Following the lost, Mark Caguioa took to Twitter to express his thoughts about the officiating in the game. Here are the tweets he posted and the ones believed to have earned him a PhP20,000 fine.

In the statement issued by the PBA (via its official Twitter account), the fine on Mark Caguioa was for "tweeting and issuing statements to media critical of officiating and considered inimical to the interest of the PBA". In addition, PBA officials noted that Caguioa "should have ventilated his issues to the league office directly" instead of his social media account.

Did you think that the fine was just and called for?

PBA Governor's Cup 2013: Schedule for September 1 to 8, 2013

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We are on the third week of 2013 PBA Governor's Cup wherein Petron Blaze Boosters and Barako Bull are leading the pack with their respective 4-1 and 3-1 standings thus far. However, both teams will go head-to-head this week wherein the leaders separate ways and one of them will take solo reign. Who will win? Do you think that San Mig Coffee Mixers and Air 21 Express can get out of the bottom soon?

This week's schedule is going to change things up a bit in the team standings (or not!).

Make sure you don't miss a single game. You can check the schedule below:

September 1, Sunday

Talk N Text vs GlobalPort - 4:15PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

Brgy. Ginebra vs Alaska Aces - 6:30PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

September 4, Wednesday

Petron Blaze vs Barako Bull - 5:15PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

Meralco Bolts vs Rain or Shine - 7:30PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

September 6, Friday

Brgy. Ginebra vs Air 21 Express - 5:15PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

Alaska Aces vs San Mig Coffee - 7:30PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

September 7, Saturday

Barako Bull vs GlobalPort - 3:45 PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

Talk N Text vs Petron Blaze Boosters - 6:00 PM (Mall of Asia Arena)

September 8, Sunday

Meralco Bolts vs Alaska Aces - 4:15 PM (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

San Mig Coffee Mixers vs Brgy. Ginebra - 6:30PM (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

Which matchup are you excited to witness this week in the PBA 2013 Governor's Cup?