Guiao, Lim sacked for 2 games

Talk n Text team manager Frankie Lim and Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao were give severe disciplimary measures in the aftermath of their ugly fight triggering a near free-for-all in their game Thursday in Tacloban, Leyte.

Maintaining their actions were "totally unacceptable," PBA commissioner Noli Eala suspended both for two games.

He also said he will also impose fine Lim and Guiao though he’s yet to determine the amount to be levied on the two.

Eala won’t spare the other personalities who got involved in the commotion, saying they will also be meted fines that could reach P500,000 — the biggest since the Red Bull walkout attempt in the recent All-Filipino semifinals against Barangay Ginebra.

The commissioner made the verdict shortly after separate "closed door conferences" with the two officials, who, in a video tape, were found to have traded blows in full view of the public at the Tacloban Convention Center.

The Bulls raged on after the incident and scored a 104-76 blowout.

"What they did was totally unacceptable. The punishment could have been stiffer but the two officials promised that they will never be involved in such incident in the future," Eala said.

In their meetings with Eala, Guiao and Lim maintained they had their reasons in doing what they did but nonetheless apologized to the league, their respective teams and the fans.

Talk n Text center Asi Taulava and Red Bull forward Carlo Sharma were also summoned by Eala after trading cheap shots in the contest.

The commissioner said the two players will also be fined.

PBA technical chief Perry Martinez said team staff and players who rushed to the court during the commotion stand to be penalized.

"Under PBA rules, players who were caught within the vicinity of the commotion will be fined P20,000 and non-players will be slapped P10,000," said Martinez.

Apparently, only Rich Alvarez, Mick Pennisi, Donbel Belano and Harvey Carey stayed on their bench.

As a result of the sanctions, the Bulls will play minus Guiao as they take on the Welcoat Dragons in the Talk n Text PBA Philippine Cup at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Coca-Cola and Alaska clash in the day’s other game, putting much of the attention on the fight among the Tigers, the Aces and the Dragons to avoid 10th place which means early elimination in the tourney.

The Bulls, at 9-5, crowd the Barangay Ginebra Kings (10-4), the San Miguel Beermen (9-5), the Sta. Lucia Realtors (9-5), and the Purefoods Chunkee Giants (8-6) in a heated battle for the two outright seats in the semifinals.