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MANILA – The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has meted Cagayan Valley coach Alvin Pua a P500,000 fine and a lifetime ban for punching and injuring referee Ben Montero during their game against Livermarin on Thursday.
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said Pua is a repeat offender, having figured in altercations with game officials twice already. The incident on Thursday was the third.
“This is the last straw. In the highest interest of sportsmanship and the norms of human decency, the league is hereby imposing a lifetime ban on Coach Pua from all PBA related activities for mauling a referee and for his recalcitrant and incorrigible demeanor,” said the outgoing PBA official in a statement.
Pua punched Montero at the back and on the face after the basketball coach was given a warning for contesting a call.
The hit opened a cut on face of Montero, who was quickly rushed to Medical City for treatment.
“We view this latest act of Coach Pua to be despicable and offensive to the sensibilities of all sports stakeholders and aficionados. It lays waste to the concept of sportsmanship and is a complete breakdown in a coach’s responsibility to do what is right for the sport and the fans,” said Salud.
“He is also fined the amount of P 500,000 for this dastardly act.”
The incident was the third time Pua was involved in a commotion with game officials.
In 2012, he also penalized by the PBA when he hit a referee during a practice game. Pua was also banned for three games and was slapped with a P50,000 fine for accosting two referees during a D-League game between Cagayan Valley and Jumbo Plastic two years later.
After the incident with Jumbo Plastic, league officials warned that Pua will be penalized with an outright ban if he figures in a similar incident again.
The PBA also penalized Cagayan Valley’s team manager Frederic Collado for publicly criticizing the officiating to “justify” Pua’s action.
Salud ordered Collado to pay P20,000 as punishment for his statements.
“[The] said assertions made in public are punishable under league rules prohibiting any official or player of a member-ballclub from issuing statements deemed inimical and/or prejudicial to the interests of the league,” said the PBA chieftain.
“He is hereby fined the amount of P20,000 to be remitted within 15 days from receipt of this decision.”
This story was republished with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
