Torion, David face sanction for brawl

The buildup for the 29th PBA season unravelling Sunday has reached fever-pitch with two players — Jimwell Torion and Bal David — figuring in a fight midway through the final quarter of the Red Bull-Barangay Ginebra tune-up match at the Greenmeadows Gym in Quezon City yesterday and are now facing stiff sanction.

The Thunder won the match, 92-90, but Torion may come out a loser as he triggered the "basket-brawl" by punching David after two hard collisions on the floor.

"Regardless of who started the fight, I called the attention of Jimwell (Torion). We don’t tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct, so we welcome proper sanction on the erring players," said Red Bull team manager Tony Chua.

PBA operations official Rickie Santos said Torion and David will be summoned by the Commissioner’s Office even if the fight occurred only in a tune-up match.

PBA referees Mario Montiel, Ogie Ramos and Renato Fabres worked on the game with NBA technical supervisor Darryl Garretson on the sideline. New PBA supervisor of officials Ernie de Leon watched the game on tape and said the referees made the right calls during the tense moments.

"Naitawag ang tamang tawag. Gusto lang talagang magsuntukan," said De Leon in reaction to reports the two players mixed it up because the referees failed to control the situation.

"One referee was signaling a foul to the table officials when Torion suddenly hit David," De Leon added.

Also according to De Leon, the two players were earlier given a double-foul when David, on the way for a drive, elbowed Torion. The Red Bull guard then made a retaliatory motion.

In the next play, Torion hit David on the head while the Ginebra player was cutting into the shaded area. David retaliated, causing another stoppage in the game with a foul call.

It was at this juncture when Torion punched David.

Ginebra makes its first appearance in the new season versus Purefoods Wednesday at the Philsports Arena. Red Bull plays its first game against FedEx Friday at the Makati Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Eala said NBN-4 barked up the wrong tree as the government-owned network lodged its protest on the Beam ad controversy to the league.

"What we have agreed upon with the Beam people is that we’ll just continue to play at the Araneta Coliseum. We have nothing to do with Beam’s own agreement with Araneta Coliseum as far as the logo is concerned," said Eala.

The PBA commissioner said NBN-4 could ease out the Beam logo in its coverage without any opposition from the league.

"Traditionally, Araneta Coliseum, and not the coveror, had been placing ad on the Araneta hardcourt and the PBA tolerated it. This time, we didn’t tolerate it. We agreed to stay only if we’re compensated," said Eala.