Belga, Almazan fined over fan taunts

MANILA, Philippines—After playing hero for Rain or Shine while frustrating the fans of Barangay Ginebra Sunday night, Beau Belga was slapped a total of P70,000 in fines by the Office of the Commissioner for plays deemed as “hurtful.”

The 6-foot-5 Belga scored 11 points and sealed an 82-79 victory over the Gin Kings with the defensive play of the game in the dying seconds, but several rough plays earlier and altercations with the fans cost him dearly.

Belga was fined P10,000 each for planting a forearm on the head of Mark Caguioa and a knee on Eman Monfort’s face and for swinging an elbow to the face of Chris Ellis. He was also slapped P40,000 for giving the crowd the finger.

Belga’s teammate Raymond Almazan was also fined P40,000 for the same offense against the fans.

Ginebra’s Dorian Peña was slapped a P10,000 fine for giving Almazan a rugby-like tackle late in the game.

“Let it be stressed that the fans are the lifeblood of the league,” commissioner Chito Salud said. “There is absolutely no excuse for any player to engage the crowd in a provocative and hostile manner.”