GlobalPort coach Pido Jarencio tries to control big man Kelly Nabong in an attempt to pacify the situation. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The PBA on Thursday dropped the punishments to those involved in the melee between Rain or Shine and Globalport that saw three ejections and a bloodied Chris Tiu.
Globalport center Kelly Nabong received the worst of sanctions as the league slapped him with a P30,000 fine–P20,000 for a flagrant foul 2 and P10,000 for displaying the middle finger.
Nabong was ejected with 3:40 left in the Elasto Painters’ 96-90 win on May 20 at Smart Araneta Coliseum after getting shoving Rain or Shine guard Maverick Ahanmisi, who was also slapped with a P15,000 fine after pushing down Sean Anthony.
The scuffle began when Rain or Shine center Beau Belga and Globalport forward Moala Tautuaa dove for the loose ball.
Although Belga was able to secure the timeout, Anthony didn’t hear the whistle that signaled the stoppage of play and he joined the pileup.
Ahanmisi took this the other way and shoved Anthony down, prompting Nabong to push off the Elasto Painter from behind.
Tautuaa was fined P10,000 for shoving the ball at Ahanmisi’s direction.
Rain or Shine’s Jay Washington, Globalport’s Ryan Araña and Bradwym Guinto were also fined P2,000 each for entering the playing court during the commotion.
Before the melee happened, Malcolm White and Tiu nearly came to blows when the Batang Pier’s import whacked the Elasto Painter in the mouth that resulted in a P20,000 fine.
Although White argued the hit was inadvertent, Rain or Shine big man Raymond Almazan retaliated with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Almazan hit White in the face and that strike cost the lanky forward P10,000.
Even the referees weren’t spared from the league’s judgment.
Rommel Gruta, Nol Quilinguen and Janine Nicandro are suspended for one rotation while Mike Flordeliza for two rotations.