TNT coach Chot Reyes. –PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–The PBA Commissioner’s Office slapped a P50,000 fine on TNT coach Chot Reyes for his outburst following his team’s 94-92 loss to Magnolia in their game held Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Deputy commissioner Eric Castro confirmed the sanction early Thursday evening through a memo, explaining that Reyes was fined for “crossing the court to confront the game officials and the technical table, as well as incessantly shouting invectives/shouting profanities at game officials while exiting the Smart Araneta Coliseum’s South Gate.”
Jojo Lastimosa, TNT’s team manager, was also fined P20,000 for “also crossing the court and confronting game officials and the technical table.”
No further sanctions were handed, but the league cited an October 2007 memo that prohibits any member of the team from approaching the officials table.
“No member of any team may approach the Commissioner’s Row [now the Technical Group Table] or talk to the Supervisor of Officials [unless requested] before, during or after a game in full public view,” the league said.
Reyes charged at the officials table after the Tropang Giga’s loss to protest the foul called on Calvin Oftana with 4.3 seconds left when he tried to swipe the ball from the Hotshots’ Paul Lee.
Lee was fouled in the act of shooting and converted both charities to put Magnolia ahead, eventually handing TNT a defeat to begin its Commissioner’s Cup campaign.
Lastimosa was also seen within the vicinity of the incident, though it appeared that he was trying to play more of a role as pacifier.
Reyes was later heard shouting at the hallway before walking towards his car after joining TNT in a postgame prayer inside the dressing room.