Eala tutol sa nais ng GAB

Tinutulan ni PBA Commissioner Noli Eala ang pagre-require ng Games and Amusement Board ng six month rehabilitation program kina Paul Asi Taulava ng Talk N Text at Dorian Peña ng San Miguel Beer at nakiusap sa GAB na i-reconsider ang kanilang desisyon.

Lumikha ng resolusyon ang GAB, Resolution No. 03.06 na pinamaga-tang "Adopting a Schedule of Penalty for Professional Basketball Players who are tests positive prohibited drugs," na kanilang ini-apply kina Peña at Taulava na parehong nadiskubreng may bakas ng Marijuana ang kanilang urine test.

Ipinagtanggol ni Eala ang dalawang player at sinabi nitong pinarusahan na ang dalawa base sa PBA rule nang kanilang suspindihin ang mga naturang player ng dalawang laro bukod pa sa drug test bago maglaro at ilang beses nang lumabas na negatibo ang kanilang mga sumunod na drug test.

Ayon kay Eala, lumalabas na hindi drug dependents ang dalawang players at hindi na kailangan pa ng rehabilitation.

"In the case of the players who have been subsequently tested negative for illegal substance, the PBA does not conform with your requirement that a six-month rehabilitation is imperative," wika ni Eala sa kanyang liham kay GAB Chairman Eduardo Villanueva.

"It is our firm position that the sanctions meted by the PBA which includes continues drug testing and monitoring are sufficient safeguards to ensure strict compliance with the drug free goals which your office and ours have set," sabi pa ni Eala.

Idinagdag pa ni Eala na ang kanilang resolusyon ay nito lamang Peb-rero 27 matapos mangyari ang insidente kina Taulava at Peña at hindi maaring iurong ang effectivity nito.

"We are therefore urging your office to reconsider the imposition of the condition requiring the enrollment in a six month rehabilitation program for the re-issuance of the licenses of Mr. Taulava and Peña," pakiusap ni Eala.

"Further, we are likewise requesting your office to clarify Resolution No. 03-06 with respect to the application of this penalty to professional basketball players who have subsequently yielded negative results on their drug test," dagdag pa ni Eala.

Samantala sa unang laro, kumawala ang Coca-Cola Tigers sa ikalawang quarter at lalo pang naging mabangis sa ikaapat na canto upang tuluyang isulong ang impresibong 103-92 panalo kontra sa Shell Velocity sa pag-usad ng Samsung PBA All-Filipino Cup sa PhilSports Arena.

Kumalas mula sa 21 pagtatabla sa first quarter, naiposte ng Coke ang 14 puntos na kalamangan sa halftime 58-44 nang humataw ng 13 puntos si William Antonio sa kanyang tinapos na 15 sa ikalawang canto.

Umabot pa ng hanggang 22 puntos ang abante ng Coca-Cola sa third quarter, 69-47. (Ulat ni Carmela Ochoa)