PBA: FiberXers, with out a lot fanfare, demolish Batang Pier

Converge FiberXers’ Alec Stockton right through a PBA Philippine Cup recreation in opposition to NorthPort Batang Pier. –PBA IMAGES

There had been no fireworks nor tough performs in Converge’s 111-92 manhandling of NorthPort on Friday within the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations, and it by hook or by crook took a again seat after commissioner Willie Marcial, who simply an hour sooner than, had simply levied a hefty positive, a suspension and issued a stern caution at the primary persona of an unpleasant incident simply two nights sooner than.

Alec Stockton dropped a season-high 33 issues, 3 in need of equaling his occupation absolute best, because the FiberXers progressed to 5-3 after their four-game profitable streak used to be snapped closing week via Barangay Ginebra in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“It a good bounce-back win for us after that bad loss to Ginebra,” stated FiberXers trainer Franco Atienza.

Press room communicate

Much of the controversy on the press room used to be the aftermath of Meralco bruiser Cliff Hodge’s hit on Zavier Lucero that had a variety of implications rather then the Bolts veteran’s one-game ban, a P100,000 positive and Marcial’s promise of even stiffer consequences will have to one thing of the similar occur once more.

“I told him—because he had already been summoned twice—that the penalty will be harsher, which could mean a longer suspension (if this happens again),” Marcial stated in Filipino when he addressed the sanctions right through halftime of Converge’s lopsided win.

Hodge held directly to Lucero’s head find it irresistible used to be a scripted skilled wrestling maneuver, which sooner or later prompted a clearing of each benches and had coaches, crew managers and different avid gamers going in on it.

While Lucero didn’t obtain a minimum of a positive, Magnolia assistant trainer Mon Jose used to be additionally passed a one-game ban whilst additionally fined P20,000 after the technical committee decided in its overview that he had certainly given Hodge a headbutt on the scorers’ desk.

Hodge, who has since apologized, stated {that a} member of the Magnolia training team of workers gave him a headbutt, despite the fact that he didn’t determine Jose because the wrongdoer.

The league’s two best officers out of doors of Marcial had been additionally punished because the commissioner canned his deputy, Eric Castro, and technical head, Bong Pascual, who each were given one-playdate bans every after failing handy Hodge a Flagrant Foul 2 following a overview right through the sport.

Hodge used to be given a Flagrant Foul 1 as a substitute of an F2, which might have ended in an automated ejection.

“There were lapses in our technical procedure and Hodge should have been given an F2 on the spot,” stated Marcial.

Castro used to be no longer in attendance on Friday on account of the ban whilst Pascual will serve his the next Friday.

Marcial talked with each Hodge and Lucero, who had previous referred to as the foul as a “dirty play.” Hodge used to be topic of scrutiny on social media, with some describing his transfer as like Steve Austin’s “Stone Cold Stunner,” Randy Orton’s “RKO” or LA Knight’s “BFT, that are finishers they follow right through their skilled wrestling fits within the WWE.

Ginebra used to be taking part in Phoenix at press time within the nightcap.