Limpot’s reinstatement up next?

After Davonn Harp and Noli Locsin, it’s now Jun Limpot’s turn to bid for reinstatement in the league.

Barangay Ginebra is hoping Limpot’s case could be re-evaluated by PBA commissioner Noli Eala after the 6-foot-5 forward/slotman completed a psychosocial program and passed a number of random drug tests conducted by the team.

Ginebra team manager and alternate board governor Ira Maniquis told The STAR they have requested for Limpot’s reinstatement in a formal letter to Eala.

In another development, Talk n Text board representative Ricky Vargas appealed to the PBA Commissioner’s Office the fine and suspension it slapped on coach Ariel Vanguardia and the separate fine imposed on the whole Phone Pals squad on their controversial game against the Red Bull Barako squad in the semifinals of the Invitational.

Vargas felt the sanctions slapped on Vanguardia and the Phone Pals were "out of proportion to the conceived offenses."

Vanguardia was suspended for five games and fined P50,000 while the Phone Pals fined P250,000 for their farcical acts in the closing seconds of the match versus the Thunder.

Limpot was suspended indefinitely by Eala after failing a one-time mandatory test conducted by the league together with Harp, Locsin, Ryan Bernardo of FedEx, Long David of Talk n Text and Dorian Peña of San Miguel. Other random tests netted five players in Peña, Asi Taulava and Norman Gonzales of Talk n Text, Jimwell Torion of Red Bull and Alex Crisano of Ginebra.

The cases of Limpot, Harp, Locsin, Bernardo and David were originally due for reevaluation at the end of September. Eala, however, has already reopened the cases of Harp and Locsin as the two players submitted documents proving they are now drug-free.

"We’re hoping that the commissioner considers our request as we believe Jun (Limpot) has met the requirements," said Maniquis.

"Jun underwent psychosocial program for self-improvement at ginawa niyang productive yung time na nawala siya. Ginamit niya ito for his improvement physically. Ang ganda ng kundisyon niya ngayon," Maniquis added.

While undergoing psychosocial program, Limpot had also underwent random tests conducted by the San Miguel Corp. medical team.

"Unpredictable ang random test namin. Biglaan ito kaya nagugulat ang mga players. Sinasabi nila ‘nanaman." Si Jun na-test at least seven times. Lahat naman ipinasa niya," said Maniquis.

"Credit Jun for the thing he did during his suspension. It reinforces his clean image and good track record," Maniquis added.

The Ginebra team is also appealing the case of Crisano, who is also up for reevaluation at the end of the Samsung PBA Invitational Cup.

"On the part of Crisano, there’s a big improvement in his frame of mind. All he wants is a clean image," said Maniquis.

The Ginebra team manager said Crisano also passed at least seven random tests.

Meanwhile, the PBA is going to play anew at the Philsports Arena as the Philippine Sports Commission agreed to do away with all the "backdoor advertisements" in the Pasig venue.

The PBA marks its return to the venue by holding the deciding Game Three of the Coca-Cola-Alaska Milk duel for the Invitational Cup championship tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Eala said they were also close to completibg a new deal with the Araneta Coliseum management.

The PBA decided to pack up and leave the Philsports Arena and the Araneta Coliseum after the All-Filipino Cup because of unauthorized display adson the two venues.