Catch Me If You Can | Purefoods vs Talk n Text Rumble

I don’t get to watch PBA games that often anymore because of my work and my TV signal at home. But I’m surely lucky I got to see this. Even though the I’m rooting for lost the game badly, at least this game brought some entertainment value. And my brother won in the “ending” bet. LOL.

PBA slaps P244K fines on TNT, Pfoods players
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association meted P244,400 worth of fines after an ugly encounter between Talk ?N Text and Purefoods players ensued Wednesday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.

Terrence Leather was slapped P62,400, but the PBA did not suspend the fiery Talk ?N Text import for Friday?s game, allowing him to play in the critical knockout match against Sta. Lucia.

Also drawing fines from Talk ?N Text were Kalani Ferreria and Gilbert Lao who were fined P20,000 for leaving the bench.

Former MVP James Yap was fined P50,000 for kicking Leather. Teammates Rico Villanueva (P30,000), Kerby Raymundo (P30,000), Rob Sanz (P28,000) and Jondan Salvador (P1,000) were also penalized.

Only two weeks ago, Leather was thrown out of a Talk ?N Text-Ginebra game and then was nearly involved in a fight with Ginebra players afterward along the hallway leading to the teams’ locker rooms.

Leather and the Phone Pals face the Sta. Lucia Realtors at 7 p.m. at the Ynares Center. The winner advances to meet Barangay Ginebra in the best-of-three quarterfinals that begin Sunday. - GMANews.TV

TNT, PUREFOODS PLAYERS FINED 244K FOR MELEE
Leather P62,400 poorer
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Talk n Text import Terrence Leather, two teammates and five Purefoods rivals drew a total of P244,400 fines in the aftermath of the ugly fracas marring the TnT-Purefoods match Wednesday at the Ynares Center.

Being the main combatant, Leather incurred the heaviest fine of P62,400 but escaped suspension, allowing him to play as the Pals battle the Sta. Lucia Realtors in the final knockout stage of the 2008 Smart PBA FIesta Cup wildcard plays in the same venue in Antipolo Friday.

The Pals and the Realtors knock each other out at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal round versus the Barangay Ginebra Kings.

Kalani Ferreria and Gilbert Lao were fined P20,000 each for leaving the Talk n Text bench and rushing to the court during the commotion.

Yap drew the biggest fine (P50,000) among the Giants for retaliating without being the object of the instigator. Enrico Villanueva (P33,000), Kerby Raymundo (P30,000), Rob Sanz (P28,000) and Jondan Salvador (P1,000) had their own fines for their own involvement in the melee.

PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios and his technical staff took practically the whole day reviewing the tape, getting the sides of the erring players then discussing the matter among themselves before handing down the verdict.

Talk n Text and Sta. Lucia are expected to figure in a fierce battle with both teams coming out in full force.

Sta. Lucia governor Buddy Encarnado had no complaint on Leather being spared of suspension. He’s looking forward to an improvement on officiating that will prevent a repeat of the incident.

Talk n Text coach Chot Reyes had a big relief but still expressed concern against a Sta. Lucia team which is in the hunt for a double-championship in the season.

“With or without Leather, we have to play tough against Sta. Lucia,” said Reyes. (NC)