Gems, Slashers draw heavy fines

MBA commissioner Ogie Narvasa yesterday slapped a total fine of P54,000 on the Cebuana Lhuillier and Negros cagers for misconduct during their tumultuous semifinal match in the first phase of the MBA tournament in Cebu City last Sunday.

The Gems’ Willy Mejia drew the biggest fine of P14,000 and a one-game suspension for planting an elbow in the face of Negros’s Leo Bat-og, who retaliated with a punching foul that triggered a bench-clearing brawl in Game 2 of their best-of-three duel.

The Slashers swept the series, 2-0.

Mejia’s fine was actually pegged at P10,000 but the MBA chief added another P4,000 since it was the cager’s second offense in the season.

Bat-og, on the other hand, was slapped a P4,000 fine for his action and, like Mejia, will not see action in Friday’s Game 1 of the Slashers’ best-of-five duel with the San Juan Knights.

Two more Gems — Melvin Taguines and Roy Lura — were fined P8,000 and P5,000, respectively, for flagrant fouls.

Gems’ coach Tonichi Yturri was assessed a total fine of P7,000 for continuously cursing game officials and a technical foul.

Homer Se, Carlos Sayon, Stephen Padilla, Al Solis, Jan Montalbo and Chris De Jesus were also fined P2,000 each for joining the incident.

Aside from Bat-og, the only other Negros player who was fined was White, who was slapped a P4,000 penalty for misconduct. — Joey Villar