Torion to plead case, apologizes to Alapag

Red Bull Barako’s Jimwell Torion yesterday said he would appeal his eight-month suspension even as he apologized to Jimmy Alapag following his flagrant foul on the Talk N Text guard that drew the severe penalty.

Seeking compassion and understanding, Torion said the punitive action that would cost no less than P2 million in salary loss would greatly affect his family and relatives who have depended on the rugged Barako cager.

"I apologize to Jimmy Alapag for what I’ve done. I didn’t want to hurt him. (My action) was spur of the moment," said Torion in Pilipino. "I also apologize to the Red Bull and Talk n Text managements and most specially to the PBA fans."

Torion said he had wanted to apologize to Alapag personally, but Talk n Text officials advised him to wait until the situation had normalized.

While saying he was aware of the consequences of the flagrant foul he threw on Alapag, Torion felt the sanction imposed by PBA commissioner Noli Eala was too harsh.

Eala suspended Torion for the duration of the eight-month transition season next year for the blatant foul that sent Alapag to the hospital with a fractured nose bridge.

"Kung matutuloy ito, paano ang pamilya ko? Baka hindi na kami makabangon. Sana kung nagiisa lang ako, walang problema. Kaya lang marami ang umaasa sa akin," said Torion, who has five kids.

In fact, the beleaguered player has returned his recently-acquired Honda CRV to the dealer because he could no longer pay the P21,000 monthly amortization. He is also paying for the studies of sister Vivian at Trinity College and a hefty P84,000 monthly installment on his Vermont Royale home in Antipolo.

Torion’s agent-adviser Danny Espiritu said he’ll seek clarification with the Games and Amusements Board with regards to its guidelines on penalties so they would be properly guided in drafting the letter of appeal to the PBA.

"Actually, binalikan ko na ang mga dating insidente sa PBA. Based on my study, lumalabas na talagang masyadong harsh ang naging parusa kay Jimwell," said Espiritu.

"This is Jimwell’s first offense. If they considered Jimwell’s fight with Bal David during a pre-season exhibition game Jimwell’s first offense, grabe pa rin ang acceleration ng parusa dahil na-fine lang siya doon ng P25,000," added Espiritu. "Yung drug case, entirely different matter naman iyon."

On the premise that Torion did the flagrant foul on order of the Barako coaching staff, head coach Yeng Guiao said it’s never been his policy to put one’s career in jeopardy.

"Simple lang ang policy namin....to play hard. We play the same way we play in practice. Alam ng mga players ko na ayaw na ayaw ko seeing a player harming intentionally another player. But I’m saying if you foul, you foul hard. Make sure he feels it," said Guiao.

"I feel we owe it to the PBA and the fans to play with emotion. We’re playing with fire in our eyes because we’re giving our all for the league. Sino ba si (Jimmy) Alapag para personalin namin?" Guiao added.