Balkman banned from playing in PBA; fined P250,000

Petron’s Import Renaldo Balkman Presscon after being summoned by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud at PBA Commissioners Office Libis Quezon City with all of his teammates (Arwind Santos just behind) and Petron’s coaching staff. PBA IMAGE / Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – There is no second chance for Petron Blaze import Renaldo Balkman.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Monday slapped a lifetime ban on Balkman from playing in the PBA following the import’s outrage in the Boosters’ 73-83 loss to Alaska last Friday.

Balkman was also fined P250,000 for his antics.

“For initiating threatening physical contact with a referee following a prolonged, offensive, belligerent if not aberrant on-court decorum directed toward game officials and his Petron teammates and his superiors including the head coach and assistant coaches amounting to a blatant and utter disrespect for the game, his own ball club, the League, the fans and his host country,” Salud said in a statement in explaining the rationale for the lifetime ban.

Petron’s import Renaldo Balkman talks to media after the PBA decision. PHOTO/JONATHAN DE BELEN, INQUIRER.net

The six-foot-six Balkman choked his teammate Arwind Santos as Santos tried to pacify the frustrated import in an attempt to control the situation.

Salud also took into consideration ‘Balkman’s track record as a player including the head-butting incident during a FIBA-Americas game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela and his recent altercation with the bench of the Alaska Aces during a preseason game in Cebu City.’

“I also took into consideration Balkman’s evident disregard for local and the host country’s sensibilities highlighted by his choking act on-court incident in full public view of his own teammate who was trying to pacify him,” Salud added.

Balkman — even backed by the entire Petron squad — met with Salud on Monday to explain his side but it still wasn’t enough to make him stay in the league. With report by Celest R. Flores