Hotshots blast import; Bowles in as replacement

MANILA, Philippines - For dishonoring boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Daniel Orton drew a heavy fine from the PBA Commissioner’s Office and got the pink slip from his Purefoods Star team.

Orton is out and taking over his job is two-time PBA champion import Denzel Bowles as the Hotshots tangle with the Barangay Ginebra Kings at the resumption of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.

“What he did was like going to the US and degrading Martin Luther King. He dishonored ‘Pambansang Kamao’ who is a friend to most of our players. So even our locals got mad at Orton,” said Purefoods top official Rene Pardo.

With all his rants following their upset loss to Pacquiao and his Kia Carnival team Wednesday, Orton was told not to show up in practice anymore.

“We talked to our locals. They would have been ready to play all-Filipino against Ginebra,” said Pardo.

But the Hotshots got a big relief as Bowles flew in early yesterday morning and was measured at 6-foot-8 13/16, making him eligible for another tour of duty with the team that he has led to back-to-back Commissioner’s Cup championships.

“We’ve had to move mountains in a short period of time, but Denzel is now in town ready to play,” said Purefoods coach Tim Cone.

“Hopefully, we can begin to move forward again and get back on the winning track. We’ve had very little time to prepare for Ginebra, though, so we will temper our expectation. After that, we only play two games in three weeks, so we expect to be ready for the rest of the elims and the playoffs,” Cone also said.

 Purefoods is at joint third with Rain or Shine at 4-2, having lost two of three games with Orton. The Hotshots won all their first three games with Marqus Blakely as import.

On Wednesday, Orton got into foul-trouble situation early and ended up with merely six points and three rebounds as they were humbled by the Carnival, 84-95.

Frustrated and disappointed, Orton vented his ire on the referees and took a dig at Pacquiao.

“This game is seriously a joke. The way the game was going, the refs took the game that I know and love and they made it into a mockery,” he said.

On Pacquiao, Orton said: “That’s the joke. That’s part of the joke I was talking about. Professional boxer, yeah, okay. Congressman, alright. Professional basketball player, no. It’s a joke. Seriously, it’s a joke.”

On Friday, PBA commissioner Chito Salud slapped the erring import a stiff fine of P250,000.

“Regardless of what action his ball club may take regarding his status, this Office disapproves of and frowns upon the cavalier manner in which Mr. Orton issued his comments and the unwarranted antics and liberties he has taken with the league and a fellow player. This insulting behavior will never be condoned by this league,” said Salud.