Wilson, Parada fined

BY NOLI CORTEZ

THE two imports involved in last Wednesday’s fight-marred Red Bull-Sta. Lucia Realty game between were spared of suspensions but PBA Commissioner Renauld "Sonny" Barrios did hurt them in their pockets.

Realtors reinforcement Wesley Wilson was assessed a P65,000 fine and Bulls counterpart Adam Parada P20,000 for the incident that is the first of its kind in the Smart PBA Philippine Cup.

Barrios came up with his verdict after reviewing the game tape and hearing the sides of the two offenders in separate meetings yesterday.

The Bulls were unassailably ahead 89-65 with 3:45 left in the game they would win by a 105-78 score, when Wilson gave a hard bump on a streaking Jojo Duncil. Parada, who was trailing the play, saw what happened and shoved Wilson, to which the latter responded with a stiff arm to Parada’s face.

The two then adopted some fighting poses and all those actions were deemed fighting fouls by the game officials, entailing with them automatic banishment from the game.

Wilson’s penalties were the maximum P60,000 for the fighting foul and P5,000 for his flagrant foul penalty 1 on Duncil.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola aims to bounce back from a loss and gain a share of the lead when it goes up against revitalized Magnolia today at the Araneta Coliseum.

A Tigers’ victory will erase the stigma of their 75-82 loss to Red Bull last April 30, jack their win-loss record to 6-2 and tie them with idle Red Bull and Talk N Text, if the latter scores its fourth straight win against Welcoat in the nightcap, at the top.

The Beverage Masters, on the other hand, are looking to notch their second straight victory that will be their fifth win in eight outings and tie them with their victim at third-running spot.

Despite that Coke loss, Magnolia coach Siot Tanquingcen remains wary.

"It is a good test for our team because Coke is playing really well as a team on both ends of the floor," he said, before pointing out: "Kaya nga sila nasa itaas ng standing."