INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?The Philippine Basketball Association Tuesday slapped a P1.2-million fine?the biggest in league history?on Talk ?N Text for walking out of Game 4 of its best-of-five quarterfinal series with Barangay Ginebra eventually won by the Gin Kings.

In explaining the landmark decision, commissioner Sonny Barrios said the league is merely protecting the interest of the fans, who ?happen to be the lifeblood of the league.?

But Talk ?N Text is protesting the decision with team manager Virgil Villavicencio noting ?inconsistencies? in the letter sent by Barrios.

?We will protest and seek clarification on the fine,? Villavicencio told the Philippine Daily Inquirer over the phone. ?We can?t see the fair compromise that the commissioner is talking about in his letter. We just want him to explain it.?

Barrios levied a P500,000 fine on the Texters, and the amount shall be paid to Barangay Ginebra under section 32 of the PBA constitution and by-laws.

The Texters also forfeited their share in the gate receipts and TV revenues, which could amount to anywhere from P200,000 to P250,000, to the nine other PBA ballclubs

League rules also allow the commissioner to have discretion to levy more fines on walkouts. And Barrios slapped an additional P500,000 on the Texters, which he said will go to the Players? Educational Trust Fund for the benefit of the players and their dependents.

With the hefty fine, Barrios said he hopes there won?t be any repetition of the incident that happened last Friday.

The Tropang Texters?who complained about the officiating in the series, especially the disparity in fouls called?walked out with a minute left in the first quarter after Ranidel de Ocampo was whistled for a Flagrant Foul 2.

The play, which saw De Ocampo?s elbow landing on Ronald Tubid?s face, was actually reviewed by game officials several times before the decision was announced.

?It?s not good to opt for a walkout or even think about a walkout,? Barrios said.

?There are established rules and procedures to properly ventilate a team?s disagreement with officiating so that the fans do not become innocent and unwilling victims of a team?s protest over calls.?

Talk ?N Text?s move is the first walkout incident in 20 years. Añejo also stormed off the court in the 1990 Open Conference finals against Shell and was fined P550,000, the biggest in PBA history until the Talk ?N Text fine.