No PBA return for Cornley if allegations are proven true, says Salud

Jamelle Cornley wins PBA 37th Season Governors Cup Best Import and Mark Caguioa as Best Player of the Conference. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines—Don’t expect ex-PBA import Jamelle Cornley to make a comeback if proven guilty of his actions.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement that Cornley, who was arrested after allegedly assaulting a police officer Wednesday morning, will have “zero chance of playing in the PBA again” if the charges pressed against the six-foot-five forward are “proven to be true.”

“I understand that this is now a police matter where facts will continue to be established. Mr. Cornley is not currently associated with the PBA in any manner whatsoever.”

Salud added: “Be that as it may, I’d perhaps take the occasion to remind our players that playing in the PBA is imbued with public interest and they are thus subject to close public scrutiny within the context of higher standards and expectations.”

Cornley, who led Rain or Shine to its first-ever PBA championship during the 2012 PBA Governors’ Cup where he also bagged the best import award, will be facing alarm and scandal, malicious mischief, direct assault and resisting arrest charges filed at the Quezon City Police District Station 10.

The 25-year-old Cornley allegedly punched Polcie Officer 2 Armando Lazatin, who responded to the call from Sir William’s Hotel where the former Penn State star reportedly damaged some properties including computers after claiming that three women stole his money amounting to P60,000.

“If the allegations and charges in this incident are proven to be true, I see Mr. Cornley as having zero chance of playing in the PBA again, at least not under my watch.”

This marked the third time in less than a month where the PBA’s image took a hit involving imports – starting with former Petron Blaze reinforcement Renaldo Balkman’s choking incident which caused him a lifetime league ban and a P250,000 fine followed by ousted GlobalPort import Walter Sharpe’s alleged drunken photo which circulated on the Internet.