Encarnado takes Barrios
to task over 'sloppy' officiating

BY NOLI CORTEZ

WHILE agreeing with Commissioner Sonny Barrios' decision not to slap what should have been an automatic suspension on Talk N Text import Terrence Leather, Sta. Lucia board representative Buddy Encarnado yesterday said the scuffle that marked last Wednesday's match between the Phone Pals and Purefoods Giants could have been avoided had the referees been on top of the situation.

"The issue is not Leather. Rather, it is officiating, because the situation could have been prevented had the referees been consistent in making their calls. Instead, they dilly-dallied, resulting in the emotional outburst," Encarnado said a day after Barrios slapped a total fine of P244,000 on the players involved in the scuffle at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

"In short, the issue was due to the total neglect of the game officials. Leather was incidental. Sa kanya lang napunta ang gulo. Na-prevent sana and sitwasyon if the officials put order. Instead, they allowed all the (trash) talking, bumping," Encarnado added.

Encarnado also took a shot at Barrios, who slapped a season-high P65,000 fine on the Realtors' former import, Wesley Wilson, for figuring in a similar ugly incident in Sta. Lucia's game against Red Bull last May 7.

The Bulls were unassailably ahead 89-65 with 3:45 left in the game they would win handily win 105-78 when Wilson gave a hard bump on a streaking Jojo Duncil.

Red Bull import Adam Parada, who was trailing the play, saw what happened and shoved Wilson, prompting the latter to respond with a stiff arm to Parada's face.

The two then adopted a fighting stance, actions that were deemed fighting fouls by game officials, and were promptly ejected.

Wilson was slapped a maximum fine of P60,000 for the fighting foul and P5,000 for his flagrant foul on Duncil. Parada was also slapped a P20,000 fine.

"Kumbaga, parang traffic violation lang ang ginawa ni Wilson at ang kay Leather aggravated assault at public scandal pa. And yet, mas malaki pa rin 'yung ke Wilson," Encarnado said.

Barrios, however, begged to disagree.

"Aside from the throwing of the ball and sipa ni James, wala nang physical contact na nangyari sa Purefoods-Talk N Text game. Unlike du'n sa kaso nila Wilson na fighting fouls ang violations ng mga protagonists," he pointed out.

He agreed, however, with Encarnado, saying the referees could have done a better job of establishing control in the game.

"We have to be extra vigilant and I am meeting with my staff to address such concerns, including security, to prevent any untoward incident from happening," Barrios said.

Encarnado welcomed the non-suspension of Leather, pointing out there should be no excuses whether his team wins or loses.

"We are asking for no quarters and we will give none," he said.

Explaining his decision not to suspend Leather and the rest of the players involved in the scuffle, Barrios said he gave extra leeway to the erring players because the incident did not escalate into something far more dramatic.

"We could have given them stiffer penalties, but we instead opted to give them wider latitude, considering the situation could have gone all the way," Barrios told Malaya yesterday.

"In short, tiningnan naming mabuti kung saan ilulugar ang mga parusa," he added.

Barrios himself handed down the penalties for the various offenses committed by the players, which included leaving the bench to rush on court, throwing the ball and adopting fighting stances that usually entail fines and as much as three-day suspensions.

He also stressed the penalties were not a mere "slap on the wrist" since the total fines were the biggest yet since he assumed office last January.

"We chose the maximum fines to send out the message sa mga players na sa susunod, suspension na ang kasunod niyan,'" he stressed.

Hardest struck was Leather who was slapped the biggest fine of P62,400. He, however, played last night as the Phone Pals battled the Realtors in the final knockout stage of the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Cup wildcard play at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Reserves Kalani Ferreria and Gilbert Lao were fined P20,000 each for leaving the TNT bench and rushing to the court during the commotion.

Five Purefoods players, led by James Yap, were also hit hard with penalties. Yap drew the biggest fine (P50,000) among the Giants for kicking Leather.

The Phone Pals knocked out the Giants 98-83 last Wednesday but finished the game without Leather, who was ejected after sparking a bench-clearing incident with TNT comfortably ahead 79-63 and 9:38 left to play.

In other developments, early quarterfinalist Coca-Cola has signed up Brandon Dean to replace second import Donald Copeland, who had to leave last week to attend to attend a custody case in the US.