MANILA – The PBA Commissioner’s Office has penalized San Miguel Beermen’s Christian Standhardinger and Phoenix Fuel Masters’ Calvin Abueva during their antics in Game 2 of the 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinals last Monday.
The Filipino-German center Standhardinger was slapped with P20,000 for the flagrant foul 2 infraction he committed against Abueva in the second quarter of Beermen’s 92-82 Game 2 win.
Standhardinger hit Abueva with his left foot to the face while they laid on the floor. Later on the former was caught hitting the latter on the groin as he stood up to get back on defense.
Standhardinger was adamant Abueva “flopped” in the play but later admitted he accidentally hit the Phoenix bruiser in the groin area as he tried to wriggle free from the loose ball scrum.
“He pulled me down and I fell down. I tried to run away and try to run back on defense and I accidentally hit him,” he said. “I feel very sorry for accidentally, and that’s the most important thing. But I think he is fine and he was able to finish the game.”
Abueva, however, was not spared from fine as he was ordered to pay P15,000 for flashing the dirty finger several times in front of the camera. Both players however, escaped suspension.
Abueva’s teammate Douglas Kramer, on the other hand, was slapped with P5,000 fine for the flagrant foul 1 administered against Beermen center June Mar Fajardo also during the match.
The Beermen currently holds a 2-0 edge in the best-of-seven semifinals series with the four-time defending champions hoping to put the Fuel Masters on the ropes when the league resumes on Sunday./PN
