Photo: Japeth Aguilar / FB, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters / FB" width="100%" />
The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) yesterday fined its players, Barangay Ginebra star Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine rookie Adrian Wong PHP20,000 (US$405) each for violating quarantine rules, after they were seen on video playing hoops at a San Juan gym last week.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial summoned Aguilar and Wong in a meeting yesterday to ask them to explain the incident. On top of the hefty fines, Marcial ordered them to take a swab test no later than today and to undergo a 14-day quarantine while they await their results.
Though the footage can no longer be found, an exclusive report by The Philippine Daily Inquirer said Aguilar posted a video late Wednesday on Instagram where he can be seen playing a five-on-five game with former Ateneo stars Isaac Go and Thirdy Ravena at Ronac Gym in San Juan.
Commissioner Marcial said that both Aguilar and Wong have apologized for their actions.
Despite this, Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro, who was also in the meeting, additionally ordered the erring PBA players to undergo 30 hours of community service. Castro did not specify when and where the service will be rendered.
Read: PBA cancels games amidst COVID-19 fears ‘until further notice’
The Duterte government allowed the PBA and professional football teams to resume their practice sessions last week. Scrimmages and full matches are still not allowed under the general community quarantine, which is imposed all over Metro Manila.
The country’s fiercely loved hoops league suspended its matches on March 11 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
