PBA summons Chua; severe sanction likely

Sta. Lucia coach Alfrancis Chua was summoned to appear at the PBA Commissioner’s Office yesterday, facing possible severe sanction for his misconduct in the closing seconds of their game against Purefoods last Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.

Chua hit the ball in possession of referee Joey Calungcaguin with the ball slamming the face of the game official, questioning a crucial out-of-bounds call which gave Purefoods ball possession with 8.7 seconds left in the clock. The Hotdogs were up, 84-81, in the play.

The temperamental Sta. Lucia mentor was consequently ejected, paving the way for the Hotdogs victory, 88-83.

Some officials considered Chua’s action as a direct hit to the referee and PBA technical chief Perry Martinez said a stiff sanction is definitely in store for Chua.

Chua has incurred heavy fines on two occasions before with the first back in 1999 when he confronted referee Benjie Chua after a game and the other in the first conference last year when he accosted referee Boy Cruz. He was slapped a fine of P20,000 in his last offense.

If ever, Chua would become the first individual sanctioned in the Gran Matador PBA Fiesta Conference for misconduct.

Eleven players have been fined but only in violation of the league’s dress code. These are imports Mark Sanford, Galen Young, Alvin Jefferson and local players Jayjay Helterbrand, Bal David, Mark Omolon, Paul Artadi, Alvin Patrimonio, Banjo Calpito, William Antonio and Rafi Reavis. These players were fined P1,000 each.

Before the tournament began, Homer Se of Red Bull Barako and Mark Pingris of FedEx were fined P5,000 and P1,000, respectively, for figuring in a fight in a pre-tournament tune-up game.

Chua blew his top when Calungcaguin ruled a Purefoods possession after the ball went out of bounds with Purefoods import Edner Elisma and Sta. Lucia’s Norman Gonzales both going for it following a missed three-point try by Paolo Mendoza.

In reviewing the game tape, Martinez said different angles suggested different calls.

Sta. Lucia is deep in the cellar, winless in four starts in the PBA transition tourney.