Ivan Johnson, the volatile Talk ‘N Text import who has had run-ins with several players in the past, was slapped a P150,000 fine by PBA commissioner Chito Salud for deliberately running into Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao late in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup title series Wednesday night.
It was the second biggest fine on a player this season after the P250,000 penalty slapped on former Purefoods import Daniel Orton for calling Manny Pacquiao “a joke” as a basketball player while the world boxing champion was serving as the playing-coach of KIA Motors in the Philippine Cup.
Johnson ran into an unsuspecting Guiao at the 3:36 mark of the third quarter, with the Texters leading 70-61, but escaped with just a technical foul. The Tropang Texters later won the game, 99-92.
The import, who was also disciplined while playing in South Korea, said he didn’t see Guiao while he was trying to make it back to their side of the floor.
Meanwhile, the league’s board yesterday trimmed its original “short list” of candidates for commissioner from six to three before adding the name of Chito Narvasa after its emergency meeting yesterday.
Chair Patrick Gregorio of PLDT said Narvasa’s name was part of the first short list but was withheld pending unresolved minor issues.
The others staying in the race are Jay Adalem, Vince Hizon and Rickie Santos.