Pingris slapped fine for hard foul

MANILA, Philippines - San Mig Coffee energetic forward Marc Pingris was slapped a fine of P40,000 for his punching foul on James Sena late in the first half of the San Mig Coffee-Meralco tiff Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“After thorough consideration of all the circumstances, including the reports of the referee concerned and the technical committee, as well as your own testimony, this office finds that after a hard pick you received from James Sena, you were seen grabbing his jersey and throwing a punch that landed on his lower backside,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud in his memo to the erring player.

“The act was properly classified as a FFP2 (flagrant foul penalty 2) for which you were ejected. This office considers such act as blatantly unnecessary, excessive and unsportsmanlike in nature,” the league chieftain added.

Pingris was heavily fined but was spared of suspension thus making him available for the San Mig Coffee-Globalport tussle at 8 p.m. tonight.

It’s the second major infraction of Pingris in his pro career after his fight with then Globalport rookie Kelly Nabong last year.

He was meted a two-game suspension on top of a P60,000 fine then.

Meanwhile, the PBA board of governors still awaits the decision of NLEX whether to push through or not its expansion application.

“But whether it’s three or two teams, we’re ready for our expansion draft,” said Salud moments after the PBA board meeting yesterday.