PBA slaps Orton hefty fine for disrespecting Pacquiao, league officials
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud came down hard on Purefoods Star Hotshots import Daniel Orton for his statements against the officiating and Manny Pacquiao after the Hotshots' loss to the KIA Carnival last Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“For issuing comments that are disparaging, disrespectful of and offensive to his host league, the game officials, and a fellow player and head coach of a member-team, a penalty of 250,000 pesos is hereby imposed on Mr. Orton,” read the statement released by PBA Media Bureau chief Willie Marcial.
“Regardless of what action his ballclub may take regarding his status, this office disapproves of and frowns upon the cavalier manner in which Mr. Orton issued his comments and the unwarranted antics and liberties he has taken with the league and a fellow player. This insulting behavior will never be condoned by this league.”
“This game was seriously a joke,” said Orton after getting only six points and three rebounds. “The way the game was going, the refs, they made it into a mockery, seriously. They took the game that I know and love and made it into a mockery,” he added. “This is a physical league they say, but I can’t be physical? That doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t understand it at all.”
“That’s part of the joke I was talking about,” Orton said about Pacquiao. “Professional boxer, yeah okay. Congressman, alright. Professional basketball player? No. It’s a joke. Seriously, it’s a joke.
After meeting with the PBA Commissioner, Orton is expected to show up for Purefoods’ practice Friday at noon to prepare for their game against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday.
