MANILA – Ten PBA players, led by Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots guard Jiovani Jalalon, were slapped with fines by the league for playing in unsanctioned league or “ligang labas.”
Jalalon drew the stiffest penalty among those punished with a P100,000 fine for his second offense, PBA Commissioner Willier Marcial said in an article posted on PBA website on Wednesday afternoon.
Jalalon, who was fined and suspended by the Hotshots last week, was previously caught playing in ligang labas in 2021 during the height of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters center Beau Belga and NLEX Road Warriors big man JR Quinahan, who were involved in the fight-marred game in Catmon, Cebu, were fined P50,000 each plus an additional P20,000 each for their involvement in the melee.
Painters’ Rey Nambatac and Jhonard Clarito, San Miguel Beermen’s Vic Manuel and Allyn Bulanadi, Converge FiberXers’ Alec Stockton and Barkley Ebona and NorthPort Batang Pier’s Arwind Santos were fined P50,000 apiece.
Marcial has reminded the players of their responsibilities to their mother ballclubs and, though everyone was apologetic for their actions, they were warned that the penalties will be stiffer and doubled for repeat offenders.
Meanwhile, Robert Bolick Jr., who was with Belga and Quinahan in the controversial Cebu exhibition game, escaped fine as his contract with the Batang Pier expired a day before the game.
“Wala na siyang contract sa NorthPort nung nangyari ‘yun laro kaya hindi na siya na-fine,” Marcial said in an interview with Spin.ph. “Although siyempre ang rights niya nasa NorthPort pa rin.”
Bolick’s contract with the Batang Pier expired last April 20, the last day of the 2022-2023 PBA Governors’ Cup conference, while the Cebu exhibition match happened last April 21.
The PBA is prohibiting its players from appearing in unsanctioned league or “ligang labas” as well as in exhibition matches to prevent injuries, but the players can suit up if their mother ball clubs allow them./PN
