Heavy fines, ban up on erring cagers

MANILA, Philippines - PBA commissioner Chito Salud will announce today the sanctions on those involved in the free-for-all that marred the San Mig Coffee-Globalport match in the PBA Governors Cup last Wednesday at the Astrodome, the worst hard-court violence seen in the pro league in years.

Stiff fines and suspensions are expected on the erring players, particularly San Mig’s Marc Pingris and Globalport’s Kelly Nabong who slugged it out in a virtual mano-o-mano triggered by Joe Devance’s nudge on Marvin Hayes, sending the Globalport rookie to the floor.

Salud was to meet in his office yesterday Pingris, Nabong, Devance and Hayes who are likely to draw heavy sanctions.

It will be remembered that Salud imposed a lifetime ban in the case of Renaldo Balkman, who shoved and later choked teammate Arwind Santos. But this is the first time he’s faced with a fight between opposing local players.

Never had players thrown punches at each other since Jondan Salvador decked Carlo Sharma in their fight during a Purefoods-Red Bull match in 2008.

And never had opposing players attacked one another since James Yap kicked on the butt Talk n Text import Terrence Leather to spark a bench-emptying incident in the Purefoods-Talk n Text tiff, also in 2008.

In what could rank among the ugliest fights seen in the local pro league, Pingris and Nabong mixed it up at the height of the unfortunate incident. Devance got into the action after a double-foul was called on San Mig Coffee import Marqus Blakely and Hayes.

The referees had called the double-T and appeared to have the game under control but Devance still charged into Hayes, nudging him down to the floor.

As Nabong and Pingris joined the fray, all hell broke loose – reminiscent of the Red Bull-Ginebra free-for-all with Jay Mendoza and Boy Valera as main protagonists.

Worse were the Shell-Swift Mighty Meaty rumble sparked by Ricky Relosa’s cheap shot on import Ronnie Thompkins in the 90s and the Presto-Anejo riot that went all the way to the stands with chairs flying onto the court in the 80s.

There were also Wynne Arboleda and Danny Ildefonso charging into jeering fans and the recent Balkman caper.

Severe punishments were handed down by the PBA Commissioner’s Office in all those incidents.