Non-bearing tiffs up; ref suspended

For failing the make the call that would have prevented the ugly endgame melee, referee Patrick Canizares was slapped an indefinite suspension in the aftermath of the Talk n Text-US Pro-Am controversy at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala meted Canizares the severe sanction yesterday after hearing the game official’s side on the bench-clearing incident that also resulted to heavy fines and suspension for Talk n Text players Jerald Honeycutt and Asi Taulava.

The two other referees — Mario Montiel and Rene Fabrez — were spared the punitive action since they were covering different areas on the court when the commotion ensued after a baseline inbound play with Honeycutt against defender Michael Crotty.

"I just couldn’t accept that he (Canizares) missed what could have been an automatic technical foul on Honeycutt for hitting Crotty’s head with the ball. Had he blown his whistle rigth there and then, hindi na nagkaroon ng gulo," said Eala.

The Talk n Text import later body-slammed to the floor the small American player, triggering the melee with only 5.9 ticks left to play.

Crotty endured the pain as he showed with five American players to finish the game. However, Crotty had left for home Thursday with bruised marks on right hand and on the back, according to PBA staffer Hazel Ancheta who accompanied the player to the airport.

Another US player Benjamin Coffin also departed Thursday for Italy where he’s got a playing commitment.

Meanwhile, it’s a non-bearing game but expect it to be more than a fight for bragging rights as sibling rivals Barangay Ginebra and Coca-Cola — both assured of a stint in the semifinals — clash in the penultimate play date of the round at the Philsports Arena today.

For one, officials of both teams vowed to go all-out for a win not only for better seeding in the semifinals but for momentum and the right frame of mind going into the crossover best-of-three Final Four beginning Wednesday.

Red Bull Barako is expected to go for a win as well as it plays a badly depleted Talk n Text side minus Honeycutt and Taulava in the 4:10 p.m. curtain raiser.

Playing in the 6:30 p.m. main game, the Tigers and the Kings would have the luxury of choosing their semifinal opponents through the seedings but Ginebra team manager Allan Caidic and Coca-Cola coach Chot Reyes maintained that they would go for a win.

"Unang-una pareho naman mabigat ang dalawang iyan. Mamili ka ng kalaban, baka masira lang ang laro ng team mo hanggang sa semis," said Caidic.

"We’re not kidding ourselves. Whoever we play in the semis would give us a hell of a fight," said Reyes.

Caidic and Reyes said they would treat the game as a regular contest and dish out their best.

It is the same sentiment shared by US Pro-Am Selection team leader Melchor "Choy" Layon for their non-bearing game with San Miguel Beer at the Araneta Coliseum tomorrow. Alaska Milk and University of British Columbia play in the other match.

San Miguel team manager Chito Loyzaga has talked to PBA commissioner Noli Eala, informing him of their plan to play with an all-Filipino lineup tomorrow. The Beermen are appealing that the Commissioner’s Office waive a fine of P50,000 for playing importless in the contest.

Meanwhile, referee Patrick Canizares was suspended indefinitely by the league commissioner for failing to make a call on Honeycutt in the closing seconds of their game versus the US Pro-Ams, triggering a bench-clearing incident.

"Yung dalawang referees hindi na-sanction dahil pababa na sila noong nangyari ang insidente. Si Canizares nasa harap ni Honeycutt noong nagsimula ang lahat," said Marcial.