At first, it appeared that former Cagayan Rising Suns coach Alvin Pua had failed to heed the summon to appear before PBA commissioner Chito Salud because he was still reeling from the shock of a lifetime ban imposed on him.
Adding to Pua’s woes, he was fined an unprecedented P500,000 for assaulting referee Benjie Montero, whose call he resented during a game against Liver Marin in the PBA D-League last May 14. Any coach, no matter how bad he is, could slip into unfathomable depths of depression.
That was our presumption until PBA media bureau head Willie Marcial told us that the summon was issued the day after the Pua incident.
Pua did not show up and instead sent Cagayan team manager Frederic Collado on his behalf, a move that surely did not sit well with Salud. It was a blatant display of disrespect.
Later in the day, the commissioner announced the sanctions on the errant coach.
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Could Pua have gotten a lighter sanction with an appearance at the Commissioner’s Office on the day he was summoned?
His non-appearance not only incurred the commissioner’s ire but also that of PBA chair Pato Gregorio, who we heard was even angrier than Salud.
Although Marcial said Pua’s appearance probably wouldn’t have made a difference, getting a chance to personally talk to the commissioner and plead for a second chance would have softened Salud’s heart somewhat.
Even hardened criminals are given another chance if they show genuine remorse.
For also criticizing the officiating in the D-League, Pua’s proxy, Collado, was fined P20,000.
To many of the coaches we consulted, Pua’s heaviest penalty is the lifetime ban on coaching in the PBA, D-League or tournaments sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbal ng Pilipinas.
Marcial said the Cagayan Rising Suns can still join tournaments, but Pua will not be allowed to sit in as coach.
The PBA decision on Pua has been forwarded to the SBP with the recommendation that the ban be enforced in all SBP-sanctioned tournaments and activities.