PBA sanctions loom

Raymond Almazan’s disrespectful endgame antics—and his cheap shot on GlobalPort import Malcolm White—on Sunday night will not go unpunished as Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial is set to summon the Rain or Shine center.

Along with the others involved in a scuffle in that very physical Commissioner’s Cup game, the referees who called the game will also get the boot.

One of the game officials is certain to be suspended and lose thousands in salaries and game day allowances for failing to see the elbow Almazan planted on White’s face in the final 40.3 seconds of the game won by the Painters, 96-90.

After drilling White with an obvious elbow and escaping with just a regular foul, Almazan headed back to the Rain or Shine bench and went on to insult the GlobalPort import with a gesture implying that White stinks.

“Definitely, he (Almazan) will be summoned,” Marcial told the Inquirer over the phone.

“The summon is supposed to be after the All-Star [festivities], but if I see him there, I will talk to him already.”

The Painters assumed the solo lead at 5-1 and won’t be playing until June 2 against the Magnolia Hotshots.

Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee makes his much-awaited return to the Barangay Ginebra lineup as he tries to help the Gin Kings snap out of a horrible start.

He takes over Charles Garcia and will again get a lot of time to reacquaint himself with the team as they gun to win the Governors’ Cup for a third straight year later in the season.

White is also expected to be fined after drilling Chris Tiu with a blatant elbow earlier and bloodying the Rain or Shine point guard in the kisser.

Maverick Ahanmisi of Rain or Shine and Kelly Nabong of GlobalPort, who were tossed out with 3:20 to go for fighting fouls, will also be fined, at the very least.

Compounding Almazan’s case were post-game interviews where he told reporters that he hit White to stand up for his teammate Tiu.

White and Almazan continued their altercation in the hallway after the match.

Marcial was particularly disappointed at the referees for failing to spot the Almazan foul, with sources saying that the commissioner will definitely suspend at least one of the officials.