Salud slaps record P2 million fine on Rain or Shine
(SECOND UPDATE AS OF 12:20PM FEB. 28) Following the league rules to the letter, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud fined the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters a record P2 million for staging a partial walkout in Game 6 of the PLDT myDSL Philippine Cup Finals.
Shortly after meeting with team owners Raymund Yu and Terry Que, Board member Mamerto Mondragon, coach Yeng Guiao and team mnager Boy Lapid, Salud released a statement announcing the fine, believed to be the biggest in PBA history.
"This is a case of a partial walkout which under the rules is defined as the whole team leaving the playing court and returning to continue to play within the allotted time," the statement read.
"Public interest dictates that walkouts can never be condoned – whether in a finals game or not. A walkout represents a total disregard of the principles and values we want our players and teams to zealously uphold: sportsmanship and the tenet that public and fan interest is paramount.
"Deeply regrettable as it is, the ROS walkout is hereby penalized the sum of 2 million pesos (Php 2,000,000.00) for subverting public interest and the integrity of the game."
During the meeting, Salud said that Guiao made it clear that "it was not a premeditated move on the part of the ballclub and he (Guiao) further acknowledged that it was his own decision to leave the playing court with the players."
Guiao instructed his team to walk out after a foul was called on JR Quinahan. In the play, Quinahan slightly nudged Marc Pingris after the latter jumped for a basket. Guiao then screamed towards PBA Commissioner Chito Salud that they will be walking out.
The incident happened at the 11:39 mark of the second quarter with the Mixers holding a 30-17 lead. Seconds after, Guiao told his players to walk out of the game, as Pingris was about to take his free throws.
The Elasto Painters walked straight into their dugout but the PBA Commissioner quickly followed. Salud had a short talk with Yu, which led to his team walking back into the game.
When play resumed the Elasto Painters were warned for a delay of game.
Mark Barroca shot a technical free throw as Guiao was whistled for one prior to the short walkout.
San Mig Super Coffee head coach Tim Cone was visibly frustrated as the short break killed their momentum without a stiff penalty for Rain or Shine. The Elasto Painters cut the lead to 31-22 but the Super Coffee Mixers quickly regained their bearings and re-established their double-digit lead before Rain or Shine cut it down to six at the half, 49-43.
Still, the walkout was not enough to tilt the balance to their favor as they lost 93-87 to give the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers their first back-to-back titles in franchise history.
