Salud calls for ‘restraint’ amid heated PBA semis

Game Wednesday (MOA Arena)

4:15 p.m. – Rain or Shine vs Alaska

MANILA, Philippines – PBA commissioner Chito Salud has issued a statement cautioning everyone as he noted passions are running high in both series in the PBA Philippine Cup Final Four featuring corporate rivals San Miguel Beer versus Talk n Text and Rain or Shine against Alaska Milk.

“I encourage restraint at this point,” said Salud on the heels of heated exchange of words between top officials of San Miguel Beer and Talk n Text, and an avalanche of technical fouls called in the RoS-Alaska game Monday night.

Salud said he also noted issues raised pertaining to demeanor of team officials sitting on the bench.

As San Miguel team manager and governor Robert Non hit TnT coach Jong Uichico “for conduct unbecoming of a coach,” MVP Group top executive Ricky Vargas hit back at the SMC official, saying Non’s action during games are uncalled for, accusing him of intimidating the referees.

Vargas is questioning the demeanor of Non as league governor sitting on team bench during games.

With regards this particular issue, Salud said he would discuss his views and recommendations with the board.

After Game Two, Uichico expressed his disappointment with officiating, and insinuated SMC teams are favored by the refs, prompting Non to issue an statement, calling on the league commissioner to look into the accusation.

Amidst all the furors, Salud said his office is on top of the situation.

“I assure everyone concerned that game officials are prepped in advance to anticipate this sort of dynamics and hence are aware and equipped to deal with them as they happen,” said Salud.

In an earlier statement, Salud said: “The referees will be firm, steadfast and fair as they have been, so I call on the teams to focus on one thing and one thing alone: giving their best as they play the game on the merits.”

“Both semifinal series are exciting matchups. Every game counts and every game lost may cause anguish and disappointment. And understandably so because all the semifinalists are highly competitive, super motivated and evenly matched,” Salud also said.

“The fans are our real winners here – our fans who deserve topnotch competition played with the highest tenets of sportsmanship,” the league commissioner added.

Needless to say, all four teams are raring to reach the finals.

Talk n Text is aching to reclaim the crown it held from 2002-2004; San Miguel is raring to be back in the Philippine Cup finals for the first time in four years; Rain or Shine hopes to go all the way to win the crown after second-place finishes in the last two all-Filipino tourneys, and Alaska is determined to win a first crown in five conferences.