PBA fines several players, Guiao after Rain or Shine-Meralco war

MANILA, Philippines -- The PBA handed out several fines amounting to Php 62,000 in the aftermath of the tumultous 102-98 epic combeack win of the Rain or Shine over the Meralco Bolts last Wednesday

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud meted out Php 5,000 fines to Meralco's rookies Cliff Hodge for his  Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 (playing the man, not the ball) on Ryan Arana and Kelly Nabong also on a Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 for taking a fighting stance against the other half of the Extra Rice, Inc. JR Quinahan.

Sol  Mercado was assessed Php 1,600 fine for taunting Quinahan, his 2nd offense this conference, while his teammates Mac Cardona (use  of profanity) and Jay-R Reyes (second motion) were meted out Php 1,000 fine in separate incidents.

On Rain or Shine, Quinahan (vicious blow to the head of Mercado) and Arana (kicking Hodge in the groin area) were assessed Php 20,000 fine each but escaped suspension.

"The penalty of suspension is an onerous and drastic measure reserved for violent and obnoxious acts. The play situations we are presently facing cannot be characterized as such so as to be reprehensible enough for suspensions," Salud told Philstar.com in a text message.

"We are avoiding unnecessarily depriving the teams and the fans of a completeplayer lineup as much as possible. But there are limits," Salud added.

Other Rain or Shine players, who were fined were Larry Rodriguez with Php 5,000 for his Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 (playing the man, not the ball), Php 1,000 on Ronnie Matias for a Technical Foul (pointing an accusing finger at the ref) and coach Yeng Guiao with Php 2,400 for his Technical Foul (use of profanity, 3rd offense).