PBA commissioner Willie Marcial is hopeful that FIBA will not be handing out a harsh punishment to the players involved in the free-for-all between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia in the World Cup qualifiers on Monday.
In a press conference at the PBA Office on Thursday, Marcial said they would make an appeal to the international basketball body if ever punishments include suspension from playing for their respective teams in the PBA.
“Depende kung ano ang desisyon ng FIBA. Kung suspension hanggang sa FIBA, susundin naming pero kung suspension hanggang sa paglalaro sa PBA, aapela kami,” said Marcial.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, who also represents Meralco Bolts as its team governor, said the national federation and its Australian counterpart Basketball Australia have until July 10 to submit their cases to FIBA.
“I don’t know how long it will take them to process the whole thing,” Panlilio said. “They’ve asked Basketball Australia the same thing. My estimate on the decision is maybe by the end of the month.”
“But again, that’s just an estimate. Knowing FIBA, I think they will swiftly go through the process and make a decision,” he added. “For now, we are on wait and see mode and are hopeful for a favorable verdict.”
The free-for-all brawl raised fears of stiff sanctions from FIBA which may force the country to lose key players ahead of future tournaments such as the second round of the World Cup qualifiers and the Indonesia Asian Games.
The press conference was held after Marcial summoned Gilas players Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, June Mar Fajardo, Roger Pogoy, Allein Maliksi, Jio Jalalon, Calvin Abueva, Carl Bryan Cruz, Troy Rosario, Japeth Aguilar, and Baser Amer.
“Pinagsabihan namin sila na sana hindi maulit lalo na sa PBA,” said Marcial. “Hihintayin lang namin ‘yung imbestigasyon ng FIBA. Hindi pa namin alam ang mangyayari. Ang sa amin lang, move on na tayo. Sorry sa mga nasaktan.”
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Bacolodnon chess player Leo Romitman captured the championship in the 8-Round Malaysia Invitational Ice Challenge Serie 4 held recently at Bandar Puchong, Selangor in Malaysia.
Romitman, who is serving as coach of STI West Negros University, drew Malaysian Bakal Mohd Bakri in Round 3 and Filipino Tyrone Dale Yao in Round 7 to finish the tournament on top with 7 points.
Other Filipino chessers settled in Top 20 are Yao in No.7 and Jose Charles Montalvo at No.20.
Meanwhile, those who finished behind Romitman are Malaysians (No.2) Abdul Rahman M Sapuan, (No.3) Muhd Khairil Asyraf Khairil, (No.4) Kah Hing Wong, (No.5) Sin Leong Lim, and (No.6) Mohd Bakri Bakal.
More than 50 chess players from across South East Asia participated with each match was given a time of 30 minutes plus 30 seconds increment per player per move per game.
Romintan became the second Negrense chess player to win championship overseas after Victorias City-native Michael Ocido topped the just-concluded 8th HDBank Cup International Open Chess 2018 was held at the Army Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam./PN
