JOHNSON FINED P150K
After summoning Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson to the league office on Thursday afternoon, the PBA fined the mercurial reinforcement P150,000 for bumping Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao late in the third quarter of the Tropang Texters’ tussle against the Elasto Painters in Wednesday.
Statement from Commissioner Chito Salud:
The Office of the Commissioner reviewed the incident of physical contact between Talk N’ Text import Ivan Johnson and Rain or Shine Coach Yeng Guiao in the 3:36 mark of the third quarter of game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
We find that Johnson failed to exercise due care to prevent the contact on Coach Guiao. Johnson, who was not in pursuit of the ball or involved in any spontaneous action at or near the premises of the Rain or Shine bench, could have avoided running into Coach Guiao with the exercise of ordinary care and caution. The contact was clearly unprovoked and avoidable. Upon repeated review, we find no merit in Johnson’s assertion that it was accidental and not intentional.
Johnson is thus fined the amount of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (P 150,000.00) for his unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Any act on his part in the future that is construed to be unsportsmanlike in nature or disrespectful of the league and its officials will merit a more severe penalty.” (RL)
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