PBA commissioner to hand out sanctions vs players involved in brawl

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — “Fighting has no place in this league.”

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Wednesday said he will make sure that players from GlobalPort and San Mig Coffee involved during a third quarter altercation will be given the “appropriate sanctions.”

Temper after Mixers import Marqus Blakely and Batang Pier reserve Marvin Hayes got tangled up.

A double foul was called against Blakely and Hayes as the game was stopped at the 8:11 mark of the third period with San Mig Coffee leading, 58-39.

“That was correctly called as a double foul. Hayes was also assessed with a technical foul for second motion,” said Salud as he watched the replay of the unfortunate incident during a TV interview.

Things got out of hand after Blakely’s teammate Joe Devance decked Hayes with a shove.

Devance, who came into the picture out-of-nowhere, was given with a technical foul for second motion also and then the fighting began between Nabong and Pingris.

GlobalPort rookie Kelly Nabong went at Devance before Pingris entered the frame in defense to his teammate.

Pingris and Nabong exchanged shots — including punches from Pingris and a knee from the chiseled Nabong before both players were ultimately separated.

National team mainstay Pingris and Nabong, the 17th pick in the 2012 Draft, were both sent out of the court for fighting.

“These players will be called at my office tomorrow precisely for the charges given to them on court. Mind you, these are on-court, in-game findings. The office of the commissioner will review this more thoroughly tomorrow,” Salud added.

GlobalPort players involved in the incident will meet with Salud Thursday morning and San Mig players will be called in the afternoon.

“I was told the last time nagkaroon ng brawl dito sa PBA was back in 2008 but under my term this is the first time so I want to review it closely. You have to go through the due process. We cannot arbitrarily and without the benefit of the review hand out the sanctions.”