BY NOLI CORTEZ
ALASKA and Air21 may contend otherwise, but PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios
yesterday insisted the penalties he had meted on Sta. Lucia Realty import Wesley
Wilson were "enough" for his misdeed.
Aces coach Tim Cone and Express team manager Lito Alvarez
yesterday said Wilson’s act that led to a near-fight during the Red Bull-SLR
game last Wednesday is similar to what Aces reinforcement Randy Holcomb recently
did, adding the Realtors import should also have been suspended aside from being
fined.
Barrios meted Wilson a P65,000 fine and instigator Adam
Parada of Red Bull P20,000 for the incident that came in the closing minutes of
their Smart PBA Philippine Cup game.
"I find the Commissioner’s ruling on Wilson totally unfair
after suspending our import," Cone said in a text message. "Wilson’s foul was
done with extreme malice and was premeditated with intent to hurt. Holcomb’s
foul was not. Wilson should certainly have been suspended."
In a call to Barrios yesterday afternoon, Alvarez also batted
for Wilson’s suspension, a penalty Alvarez said Wilson should serve out when the
Express and Realtors meet tomorrow.
Barrios said he will reconvene his technical staff to make a
thorough study of Alvarez’s informal request for reconsideration, but admitted
he feels they have already been meticulous in arriving at their initial decision
Curiously, it was also in a game against the Bulls last April
19 that Holcomb committed his brazen foul that broke and bloodied Rich Alvarez’s
nose in the dying seconds of regulation. Red Bull won 100-97.
Holcomb’s foul was modified to a flagrant foul penalty 2 (F2)
and he was assessed a P20,000 fine on top of a one-game suspension he served out
last May 2, when the Aces lost to the Air21 Express 86-79.
"We’re bitterly disappointed with the commissioner’s
decision," added Cone.
Barrios said it’s a case of apples and oranges.
Last Wednesday, the Bulls were unassailably ahead 89-65, with
3:45 left in the game they would handily win 105-78, when Wilson bumped a
streaking Jojo Duncil. Parada, who was trailing the play, saw what happened and
shoved Wilson. The latter responded with a stiff arm to Parada’s face.
The two then adopted a fighting pose, actions that were
deemed fighting fouls by game officials who promptly ejected them.
Wilson‘s penalties were the maximum P60,000 for the fighting
foul and P5,000 for his flagrant foul penalty 1 on Duncil.
"Totally na magkaiba ang circumstances," Barrios pointed out,
however. "Holcomb committed his act without provocation. It was also unnecessary
and excessive, making it fall under our definition of an F2.
"Sa kaso naman ni Wilson, he merely retaliated to Parada’s
push. Although mas stronger ang bawi, still, hindi nag-escalate ang situation,
madaling nag-paawat at walang dire consequence, katulad ng injury."
Barrios admitted other camps have also questioned his
decision, making him think of coming up with more clear-cut guidelines on grave
offenses that would enlighten not only all the teams but the public as well.
"Para ma-minimize ang mis-appreciation, kailangan sigurong we make out and
present the rules in such a way that all those concerned will see our decisions
and things in the same perspective as ours," he said. "Para mas madaling
maintindihan ng lahat."
