PBA: Dillinger, Abueva technical fouls upgraded after review

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Basketball Association has decided to upgrade the technical fouls called against Meralco Bolts’ Jared Dillinger and Alaska Aces’ Calvin Abueva to unsportsmanlike fouls upon thorough review of last Friday’s altercation.

Dillinger and Abueva were also slapped with P10,000 fine for their misconduct.

According to the league’s official statement Tuesday, while Abueva’s right hand seemed “unintentionally” landing onto Dillinger’s face, “the impact of the contact” caused the Bolts’ forward’s left eye to bruise and nose to bleed after the Aces’ sophomore forward’s forearm simultaneously landed on Dillinger’s neck and face.

Dillinger, who denied choking Abueva, on the other hand, “grabbed Abueva by the neck” and “while on a strangle/chokehold-like gesture was yelling and screaming at Abueva.”

Dillinger’s teammate Gary David, who was also on the court when the incident happened early in the fourth quarter of Meralco’s 74-65 win over Alaska, was also given a fine by the league.

“David testified that he was merely reminding Abueva that the latter’s antics were already hurtful to other players. He admitted that he did raise his arm with a closed fist at Abueva out of frustration.”

“He (David) had no reason to intervene in the incident in question. He was clearly seen, not in the act of pacifying the parties involved, but instead was shown to have taken a fighting stance that could have exacerbated the incident. For this unsportsmanlike conduct, David is being fined the amount of five thousand pesos (Php 5,000.00),” PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement after hearing the side of the involved parties Tuesday.

Abueva, who was also given an additional P3,000 fine for violating the league’s rule against flopping, was initially called for a technical foul for second motion while Dillinger’s technical was for taunting.

“Reviews of incidents such as these are conducted by my Office as a matter of course, motu proprio. I again remind our players and teams that the highest tenets of sportsmanship should never be secondary to their passion for the game,” the statement read.

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