PBA sanctions Guiao: ‘Dirty finger’ costs fiery coach fine, suspension

MANILA, Philippines — Yeng Guiao’s “dirty finger,” seen live and on television over the weekend, just cost the Rain or Shine coach another P100,000 in fines and a one-game suspension.

Chito Salud, the PBA commissioner, fined and suspended the firebrand mentor Wednesdau after both met at the league’s offices, leaving the reins of the Elasto Painters to assistant coach Caloy Garcia in Game 5 of Rain or Shine’s PLDT MyDSL Philippine Cup Final Four series with Petron Blaze.

Garcia will thus have the chance to wrap up the best-of-seven series for Guiao when the Painters go for the jugular against the Boosters at 8 p.m. Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

“For persistent conduct unbecoming of a coach exhibited in a manner positively indicating disrespect,” said Salud in a statement e-mailed to members of the media shortly before Game 4 of the Barangay Ginebra-San Mig Coffee semifinals series also at the Big Dome.

“I would like to state unequivocally that this disciplinary sanction cannot fully convey the sense of regret of this Office for the insulting and unsavory antics coach Guiao continues to display and foist on the players, the referees, his peers and the entire viewing public of the PBA, especially the youth, despite repeated well-meaning advice and counsel from this Office in the past,” continued Salud.

“I invite him to reflect upon his responsibility to the public, the league and the Rain or Shine organization which he represents, even as I reiterate that the PBA will fulfill its own responsibility to tirelessly uphold the principles of decency and sportsmanship.”

The incident happened in Game 3 of the series on Saturday where the Painters were blown off the floor by Petron, 106-73.

Guiao, a winner of five championships and seeking a trip to the Finals here for the second straight year, was thrown out of that game and in the next, which Rain or Shine won, 88-83, on Monday.

Rain or Shine took a 2-0 series lead and was heavily favored to win a third straight when the Painters suddenly dropped form. They rebounded mightily in Game 4 and now have three chances to wrap it up.

Guiao had earlier said he was standing up against poor officiating, but Salud said the Painters coach was taking the wrong approach to bringing the issue to light.

“I know how important officiating is that’s why I made it my priority to improve on it,” said Salud. “But using that reason to justify such unsavory actions is, to me, misguided.”

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