MBA fines technical director, Gems’ manager

No one is above the law, not even a league official.

MBA commissioner Ogie Narvasa made an example of this after cracking the whip on his technical director, Bert Ortiz, for his involvement in a punching incident with Cebu team manager Greg Yusingco.

Ortiz was fined P20,000 and was barred from attending games for the rest of the first phase of the 2001 MBA season after an altercation with Yusingco on June 29 at the parking lot of the San Juan Gym.

Yusingco, who punched Ortiz in the eye after a heated argument over officiating, got a stiffer penalty – P35,000 plus a suspension for the rest of the Gems’ elimination round games.

Cebuana Lhuillier assistant coach Jay Ramirez, on his part, was spared any penalty but was instead commended by Narvasa for having prevented the altercation between Ortiz and Yusingco from getting out of hand.

As these developed, Narvasa also circulated to the eight participating teams a memo prohibiting team officials, members of the league office and players from committing unsportsmanlike acts "inimical or prejudicial to the interest of the league." — Joey Villar