Chongson suspended, slapped P150,000 fine

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Basketball Association yesterday threw the book on Tanduay Light coach Lawrence Chongson, slapping him with a record P150,000 fine and a one-game suspension for his tirade against the PBA D-League.

Chongson had hit what he felt was “lack of parity” in the PBA D-League and for that,  PBA commissioner Chito Salud had meted him with the heaviest penalty since Big Chill was fined P150,000 for staging a “partial walkout” in the Foundation Cup earlier this year.

 “Given the effect of the statements issued publicly by coach Chongson, this office finds that, first, he did issue statements that I find to be critical and prejudicial to the league. Second, he issued statements that are disrespectful to the other member clubs. And finally, he issued statements and made allegations that are clearly careless and unsubstantiated,” said Salud.

Chongson got in hot water when he said the league allowed NLEX and Hapee to form “super teams” that practically relegated the rest to a fight for second. He said as a result, the PBA D-League has ended up luring “fly-by-night teams” to fill its roster. Chongson has since apologized to the league, maintaining he made a “wrong choice of words” and stressed he “didn’t mean to offend” any teams.

Chongson was summoned by Salud to his office yesterday before deciding on the penalty.

“I reminded him to be more careful and exercise caution next time he allows himself to be interviewed particularly on topics that may tend to negatively impact on the league and be potentially offensive to the stature, reputation, and goodwill of other member ballclubs,” Salud said.