D-League coaches, cagers fined, suspended

MANILA, Philippines - PBA commissioner Chito Salud suspended coaches Pido Jarencio of Max! Bond Super Glue and Luigi Trillo of Cebuana Lhuillier and two players for one game in the aftermath of the bench-clearing incident that marred the two teams’ encounter in the PBA D-League Foundation Cup last Thursday.

Fines totalling P64,500 were also slapped on the erring coaches and players Junjun Cabatu of Max! Bond Super Glue and Ariel Mepana of Cebuana Lhuillier, who sparked off the melee.

Cabatu and Mepana were also fined P5,000 each.

In the case of the two coaches, Salud said Jarencio and Trillo committed an act classified as “conduct unbecoming of a head coach” for engaging each other in a heated verbal altercation in full view of the public.

The two coaches were also fined P10,000 each.

Jarencio will serve his suspension today when the Sumos try to close out their classification round with a win against the FCA Cultivators at 2 p.m. at the Meralco gym.

The Sumos (3-2), reeling from a 58-73 blowout to the Gems (4-1) are in a must-win against the Cultivators (3-2) to remain in the race in the second outright quarterfinal berth in Group B.

Trillo’s suspension will take effect next Tuesday when the Gems go up with co-leader Cobra Energy Drink side at the close of the classification round.

The commissioner also penalized Sumos’ Riel Cervantes and Gems’ Jonathan Semira, Alfred Mandani, Kelly Nabong and Jason Escueta P5,000 each for entering the court during the fracas.

Narciso Llagas also drew P5,000 for engaging in an altercation with members of the opposing team while game officials are reviewing the incident.

Also fined but for various offenses were Sumos’ Roel Hugnatan (P,1000/second motion) and Rudy Lingganay (P1,750/flagrant foul penalty 1) and Cebuana Lhuillier’s James Ryan Sena (P1,750/ flagrant foul penalty 1).