Bulls face severe sanction for ‘walkout’

Red Bull faces a possible heavy penalty for its near walkout against San Miguel Beer Sunday in protest to what it deemed were erroneous calls it had to endure.

PBA commissioner Noli Eala has invited Red Bull team manager Tony Chua and coach Yeng Guiao to a conference today in what could lead to a league decision on how to deal with the Photokina Marketing franchise for its misdeed.

League officials look poised to punish the Red Bull, wary of a precedent the case may create in the league.

The Bulls, led by the coaching staff, stormed out of the court late in the first half but returned after a few minutes and went on to absorb an 82-106 blowout by the Beermen in Game Four of their Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup best-of-seven semifinal showdown.

After reviewing the game tape, PBA technical chief Perry Martinez admitted there were some disputed calls on the part of the referees but no gross errors to alter the flow of the game.

"We’re actually still in the process of reviewing the game tape. But I’ve seen it. I saw one or few calls a bit not clear to the judgment of referees under our guidelines but it’s natural mistake in the course of the game," said Martinez.

Guiao said he’s also reviewed the tape but was convinced of the poor officiating by referees Joey Calungcaguin, Throngy Aldaba and Wilbert Culanag.

"It’s terrible and I will raise it in our meeting with the commissioner," said Guiao.

After the match Sunday, Guiao said: "People saw the game and they can decide for themselves what happened. I don’t want to blame my team for this loss. This game wasn’t lost by my team."

Red Bull could have faced an even severe sanction had it completely abandoned the game.

It would be remembered that Anejo Rhum was slapped a huge fine of P550,000 for abandoning the endgame of Game Six of its 1990 First Conference title playoff versus eventual champion Shell.

For leaving the game for about two minutes late in the first half while trailing, 32-41, the Bulls were assessed two technical fouls for delaying the game.

The Beermen drew even with two games apiece by winning the game. The two teams dispute the pivotal 3-2 lead in the series in Game Five tomorrow also at the Big Dome.

With a commanding 3-1 lead in their own semis duel, the Alaska Milk Aces, meanwhile, take their first of three cracks at the title playoff versus the beleaguered Purefoods Chunkee Giants.