Alaska suspends Manuel, Exciminiano for playing in ‘ligang labas’

Vic Manuel and Ping Exciminiano. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Alaska will have its hands full once it goes up against San Miguel on Saturday, especially with two of its scrappiest players suspended in the rematch of the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

Aces head coach Alex Compton on Thursday said power forward Vic Manuel and point guard Ping Exciminiano are suspended for Saturday’s game after the duo played regulation basketball outside of the PBA’s jurisdiction.

Dicky Bachmann, the Aces’ team manager, said Manuel and Exciminiano violated their PBA contracts “by participating in ‘larong labas’ (a game outside of the PBA’s control).”

“There will be consequences,” said Bachmann.

Alaska lost to San Miguel in the 2015 Philippine Cup finals after blowing a 3-0 series lead in what would become known as the “Beeracle.”

Bachmann said Alaska’s move to suspend Manuel and Exciminiano is an example that the team takes these kinds of violations seriously.

“We need to send a message to all PBA players that violations like these are taken very seriously and have consequences,” said Bachmann.