Court slams plea of suspended cager

Norman Gonzales’ playing career in the pros practically came to an end yesterday following the denial by an Angeles City regional trial court of his petition for preliminary mandatory injunction to lift his suspension in the Philippine Basketball Association.

Angeles City RTC Branch 59 Judge Quiambao penned the order Wednesday, according to PBA legal counsel Butch Cleofe.

Cleofe said what is left to be decided is the case for damages filed by the Talk n Text player against the league and its commissioner Noli Eala.

With the denial of his plea for injunction, Gonzales practically kissed his hopes of returning to the PBA goodbye as his case for damages could drag for years. His playing contract with Talk n Text expires at the end of the year.

And it’s highly improbable he would be re-signed by Talk n Text for filing a legal case against the league without the ball club’s blessing.

If given a new contract, the former San Beda Lion may face a separate sanction — possibly another suspension or a heavy fine — for bringing his PBA case to the court of laws.

Gonzales is the first ever player to file a legal case against the PBA. It would be remembered that Tanduay Rhum incurred a stiff sanction when it also sought a court injunction in its own dispute with the league a few years back.

The Talk n Text forward went to court to fight the PBA sanction as he maintained his innocence on alleged illegal drug use.

Eala slapped the player an indefinite suspension after testing positive for Ecstasy in a random drug test.

A few days before the court made the decision, The STAR gathered reports that Gonzales was sending feelers to the PBA on his intension to dismiss the case. It was overtaken by the new event.

Seven other players are serving suspension also for alleged drug use. They are Jun Limpot and Alex Crisano of Barangay Ginebra, Noli Locsin and Long David also of Talk n Text, Davonn Harp of Red Bull, Dorian Pena of San Miguel and Ryan Bernardo of FedEx.

Harp and Locsin have appealed for early reinstatement after undergoing separate medical procedures to prove they’re clean.

Harp submitted documents showing he has no signs and symptoms of drug dependency, no past and present indications of drug dependency and negative for both amphetamine/methamphetamine and THC/cannabinoids.

Locsin, meanwhile, had a certificate of detoxification and said he’s willing to undergo counseling.

Curiously, Gonzales reportedly underwent detoxification process, too, but pursued his legal case against the league.