Dirty finger costs Guiao suspension, P100K fine

MANILA, Philippines – The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will have to do it again without their head coach.

The PBA has suspended Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao for one game and meted a whopping Php 100,000 fine for his consecutive ejections in Games Three and Four of their semifinal series against Petron Blaze.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud handed out the decision following a meeting with the mercurial coach on Wednesday morning.

Salud’s statement read in full:

“Following this morning’s meeting with Coach Yeng Guiao re: his use of a dirty finger pointed toward the Commissioner’s and Tech Committee table, this Office hereby metes out on Coach Guiao the penalty of one (1) game suspension and a fine of P100,000 pesos for persistent conduct unbecoming of a Coach exhibited in a manner positively indicating disrespect, if not disdain or scorn, for the league as an institution and its fans. I would like to state unequivocally that this disciplinary  sanction cannot fully convey the sense of regret of this Office for the insulting and unsavory antics Coach Guiao continues to display and foist on the players, the referees, his peers and the entire viewing public of the PBA, especially the youth, despite repeated well-meaning advice and counsel from this Office in the past. I invite him to reflect upon his responsibility to the public, the league and the Rain or Shine organization which he represents, even as I reiterate that the PBA will fulfill its own responsibility to tirelessly uphold the principles of decency and sportsmanship.”

Guiao will miss the pivotal Game Five where the Painters are hoping to clinch the first finals berth with a victory. They currently lead the series, 3-1, after gutting out an 88-83 win after losing him to ejection and top playmaker Paul Lee to sprained ankle injury.

Guiao lambasted the officiating after the Game Four victory saying, “We did not beat Petron [tonight]. We beat the referees.”

(Read also: Guiao bullish after big win, blasts officiating)

Caloy Garcia, who was Rain or Shine’s head coach before Guiao arrived, will handle the team on their Friday meeting against the Boosters.