Eala summons ‘hardcourt jesters’

PBA commissioner Noli Eala summoned the Talk n Text coaching staff headed by acting head coach Ariel Vanguardia and five Phone Pals to appear in the league office today and shed light on the bizarre ending they fashioned out in the contest against Red Bull at the Astrodome Wednesday.

Eala said he would get into the bottom of the farce of an endgame pulled off by Talk n Text and hinted a stiff sanction to be imposed on the Phone Pals for making a mockery of the game.

Sen. Robert Jaworski called it "a terrible, crazy game" and suggested that Eala "kick some butts in order to rid the league of this kind of farce."

"I want to find out what’s the reason behind the activities they did. We’ll hear their side then we will decide," said Eala.

"Tadtad na nga ng problema ang PBA, and then we get this. Nilalangaw na nga sila, niloloko pa nila ang mga laro. No wonder people are shying away," said Jaworski. "I haven’t seen anything like it. It’s crazy and terrible. You cannot just smile and laugh at this."

The Phone Pals, particularly the quintet of Asi Taulava, Vic Pablo, Jojo Manalo, Felix Belano and Patrick Fran, were summoned by Eala for shooting on the opponents’ goal while leading by one at 88-87 in the dying seconds.

Vanguardia later said they decided to do it with hopes of sending the game into overtime then possibly salvaging there the last slot in the Samsung Invitational Cup Final Four. Talk n Text needed to win by eight or more to make it to the semis.

Eala said he will remind the Phone Pals of their responsibility to the fans. "They have to give them (the fans) a game that is worth watching and remembering," the commissioner said.

And Eala branded the trick done by the Phone Pals as "unsportsmanlike gesture."

"The things they did violate the basic principle that no one should make a mockery of the rules of the game. If you look at the general rule of the PBA, you’re there to play the game as the rules dictate it," said Eala.

Talk n Text governor Ricky Vargas expressed its regret to the PBA and the fans over the manner the final minutes of the game was played out.

"We wish to emphasize that under no circumstances was the conduct of our team condoned, much less sanctioned, by management. Talk n Text is committed to the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play and will not tolerate such behavior on court. In that light, we are prepared to accept responsibility for what transpired," said Vargas.

Clinching the last slot in the Final Four, the Thunder seek to go all the way to the finals as they clash with the Alaska Aces in a one-game semis playoff at 7:30 p.m. today at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. The FedEx Express and the Coca-Cola Tigers collide in the other semis match at 5 p.m.