YBANEZ SUSPENDED, FINED FOR HITTING ARTADI

Red Bull guard Warren Ybanez was suspended for one game and fined P20,000 by the PBA Commissioner’s Office Tuesday for hitting Barangay Ginebra’s Paul Artadi at the back of the head early in the fourth quarter of their 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference semifinal opener Sunday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Though no foul was called by the game officials, commissioner Sonny Barrios classified Ybanez’s act as falling under Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 upon review of the gametape with technical officials and the referees concerned.


“It is the Board’s mandate that we crack down on flagrant and dirty fouls,” said Barrios. “We want the teams to showcase their talents and win games on merits according to the rules of the game.”

On July 14, 2008, the PBA Board of Governors approved new guidelines in the classification of grave offenses under Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 (F2) or Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 (F1). Those classified under F2 are subject to automatic ejection and at least a one game suspension plus a minimum P20,000 fine. Those falling under F1 do not merit an automatic ejection and suspension.

Two unsportsmanlike technical fouls in a game, or one unsportsmanlike technical foul and one F1 for a separate incident in a game will also cause the player to be ejected from the game but with no automatic suspension.

The new classification took into effect at the start of the best-of-seven semifinals.

After the Board approval, the technical officials went the rounds of the four teams left standing to explain and further clarify the matter to the coaches and the players. Commissioner Barrios also went to the extent of going to the team captains one by one before Sunday’s games to remind them on the new guidelines.

“The Board and the Commissioner’s Office are really serious in efforts to take away, or at least minimize, dirty plays in the PBA,” Barrios said. “They have no place in a professional league like ours. They do not do anybody any good, and in fact could even end, or hurt, a player’s career. What we want are hard, tough and intense plays and not dirty and underhanded tactics.”

Meanwhile, Air21 was fined P50,000.00 for playing without an import in their game against the Magnolia Beverage Masters also last Sunday.

Express import Steve Thomas skipped the series opener to attend the Korean Basketball League camp for imports in the United States.