Blackwater rookie Ato Ular during a game against Terrafirma in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines–Three more PBA players were penalized by the Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday for appearing in a recent exhibition game without the blessing of their teams and the league.
NorthPort’s Kent Salado and Blackwater teammates Ato Ular and Rey Suerte received a fine P50,000 each after they took part in an invitational tournament in Davao City.
A story on the PBA website said the three players were “apologetic” when they met PBA commissioner Willie Marcial at the league office in Libis, Quezon City.
The sanction came almost a week after Marcial slapped total fines of P590,000 to 10 players, including now-former NLEX cager JR Quinahan and Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga who were caught taking part in a brawl against a foreign team in Cebu.
The crackdown on those participating in “ligang labas” games has also resulted in team-imposed sanctions, the most severe being NLEX terminating the remainder of Quinahan’s contract worth P420,000.
Meanwhile, Jhonard Clarito was sanctioned by Rain or Shine for his “Ligang Labas” appearance.
Rain or Shine said Clarito will lose two days worth of salary, adding to the P50,000 fine handed to him last week by the league.
Clarito is the third player punished by the Elasto Painters, joining Belga and Rey Nambatac.