Rain or Shine fined P2M for ‘partial walkout’

Coach Yeng Guiao reacts after referee’s call. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA Philippines — For walking out during game 6 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals that subverted “public interest and the integrity of the game,” Rain or Shine was fined a total of P2 million by the commissioner’s office on Friday.

Under league rules, the action taken by the Elastopainters and their coach Yeng Guiao can be described as a partial walkout because the whole team left the playing court but returned “to continue play within the allotted time”.

Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. NOY MORCOSO III/INQUIRER.net

The Elastopainters, down 17-30, marched into to the dugout with a minute gone by in the second quarter of their 87-93 defeat to San Mig Coffee.

“Public interest dictates that walkouts can never be condoned – whether in a finals game or not. A walkout represents a total disregard of the principles and values we want our players and teams to zealously uphold: sportsmanship and the tenet that public and fan interest is paramount,” league commissioner said in a statement.

Rain or Shine owners Raymond Yu and Terry Que, board governor and lawyer Mamerto Mondragon, team manager Boy Lapid and Guiao appeared before Commissioner Chito Salud on Friday.

Salud also said that Guiao admitted that it was “his own decision to leave the playing court with the players,” and that is was not “a premeditated move on the part of the ballclub.”

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