Caguioa, Tugade draw fines

Red Bull Barako’s Lordy Tugade and Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa escaped suspension but drew fines for figuring in a fight in their game last Friday at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office meted Tugade a fine of P25,000 and Caguioa P20,000 in the aftermath of the first fracas seen in the season.

PBA technical official Perry Martinez said they considered Tugade the instigator of the fight and given a heavier sanction.

Jimwell Torion and Bal David also figured in a fight in a pre-season match between the Thunder and the Kings. Both incurred a fine of P20,000 each.

The fight between Tugade and Caguioa erupted when the Ginebra off-guard dug an elbow on the Red Bull forward’s chest midway through the fourth quarter of their game won by the Thunder, 85-80.

Picking himself up on the floor, Tugade then hit Caguioa with a clothesline tackle. Caguioa retaliated by throwing the ball on Tugade’s face.

"Tugade was considered the instigator because he made his action when the referees had called a flagrant foul on Caguioa’s infraction," said Martinez.

Timely intervention by the proverbial cooler heads stopped the commotion, and the Thunder went on to complete a convincing win over the Kings.

The Thunder return to action tonight, going for a fifth straight win in the Samsung Reinforced Conference versus the Purefoods Hotdogs at the Philsports Arena.

The Kings take on the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the other game while Talk n Text’s Jimmy Alapag and Coca-Cola’s Jeffrey Cariaso mix it up in the final match in the first round of the Ginebra-Purefoods King of the Court one-on-one competition.

Already seeded in the next round are Asi Taulava, Davonn, Harp, Tony dela Cruz, Kerby Raymundo and Yancy de Ocampo in the 6-4 and above category and Willie Miller, Chris Calaguio, Joey Mente and Francis Adriano in the below 6-4 class.

Red Bull Barako is heavily favored versus Purefoods with the Thunder running third overall in the tourney with a 5-2 win-loss record and the Hotdogs miring in the cellar with a 1-6 card.

While the Thunder are on a four-game romp, the Hotdogs are on a four-game slump, their last loss coming at the hands of the FedEx Express last Friday despite a 49-point game from their new import Leonard Cooke.