PBA: Talk N Text fined over P1 million for walkout vs Ginebra
February 9, 2010 10:50 pm
MANILA, Feb. 9 — The walkout staged by Talk N’ Text that marred Game 4 of its quarterfinal match-up with Barangay Ginebra on February 5 cost the Tropang Texters over P1 million in penalty.
Besides forfeiting Game 4 in favor of the Kings, PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios levied a P500,000 fine on Talk N’ Text, the amount of which shall be paid to Barangay Ginebra under section 32 of the PBA constitution and by-laws.
On top of that, TNT’s share in the gate receipts and television revenues for that game, which could be anywhere from P200,000 to P250,000, has also been forfeited in favor of the nine other PBA ballclubs.
The commissioner also imposed an additional P500,000 fine which he said will go to the Players’ Educational Trust Fund for the benefit of the players and their dependents.
Barrios pointed out that the PBA and its teams serve different public, foremost of which is the watching public, who happens to be the lifeblood of the league and whose interest the league has sworn to protect and hold as primordial.
“There are established rules and procedures to properly ventilate a team’s disagreement with officiating so that the fans do not become innocent and unwilling victims of a team’s protest over calls,” Barrios stressed.
A flagrant foul penalty 2 on Ranidel de Ocampo precipitated the Talk N’ Text walkout with still 60 seconds left in the first quarter and Ginebra ahead, 27-20.
The Kings eventually eliminated TNT by beating the Tropang Texters, 113-100, in the deciding Game 5 Sunday to advance to the semifinals of the KFC-PBA Philipppine Cup against Alaska.
Barrios expressed confidence that the Tropang Texters can rise above the adversity as shown by its all out effort in Game 5 of the quarterfinals. (PNA)
LDV/LOR/pr
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