Salud slaps fines on players in brawl

MANILA, Philippines - PBA commissioner Chito Salud slapped a total fine of P140,000 on four players in the aftermath of the brawl that marred the recent Rain or Shine-NLEX off-season scrimmage.

New NLEX acquisition Enrico Villanueva and Rain or Shine’s Ryan Araña and Jervy Cruz were fined P40,000 each while RoS rookie Jericho Cruz was meted out a fine of P20,000 for their involvement in the fracas forcing the stoppage of the tune-up game in Greenhills.

The league commissioner decided on the sanctions after a review of the incident caught on video by PBA chief of referees Luisito “Boy” Cruz and after hearing the sides of the erring players.

Salud ruled that Araña instigated the bench-clearing incident after throwing the ball at Villanueva.

Villanueva was penalized as heavy as Araña for throwing the first punch at the Rain or Shine guard/forward.

For unnecessarily joining the fray and kicking Villanueva while the latter was down on the floor, Jervy Cruz was fined the same amount.

Jericho Cruz didn’t escape a sanction for throwing the ball at Villanueva during the commotion.