PBA suspends 20 Fil-foreigners

The PBA board of governors, in a drastic move, decided yesterday to suspend 20 of 27 Fil-foreign players for failure to submit authenticated documents needed to update the league’s records.

But the suspension will only take effect tomorrow upon the issuance of the notice today, allowing Ginebra’s Eric Menk, Andy Seigle and Migs Noble and Purefoods’ Noy Castillo to suit up for their 6:15 p.m. out-of-town tiff in Puerto Princesa, Palawan today.

Of the 27 players considered ‘ Fil-fors’, only seven met the requirements after the April 20 deadline has elapsed, according to PBA commissioner Noli Eala.

They were Talk n Text’s Harvey Carey, Coke’s John Arigo and Rob Wainwright, Purefoods’ Mike Hrabak, Alaska’s Brandon Cablay and Coke’s Ali Peek and San Miguel’s Nic Belasco.

"In line with the board’s decision to require Fil-foreign players to complete their records, the PBA imposed a deadline. As a result of the deadline, 20 Fil-foreign players have been temporarily suspended pending full administrative compliance with the documentary requirements to update the PBA records," said Eala.

He added that the decision "does not in any way have bearing on their status as Fil-foreign players."

RP team shoo-ins Danny Seigle, Tony dela Cruz, Nic Belasco and Jimmy Alapag, were among those suspended, putting in peril their stints with the Nationals.

Hardest hit by the board decision made after a marathon meeting, was Alaska Milk which has six other Fil-foreign players in Mike Cortez, Sonny Thoss, Willy Wilson, Rob Johnson, Jeffrey Cariaso and Don Allado.

Hardly affected were Red Bull Barako, Sta. Lucia Realty and FedEx, manned mostly by homegrown players.

Meanwhile, Red Bull Barako sustained an efficient game to upend Shell, 97-76, in the Grand Matador PBA Fiesta Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Talk n Text got back at Coca-Cola, 104-88, to seize the solo lead in the chart with nine wins against four losses in the nightcap.