by Waylon Galvez
Manila, Philippines – Jared Dillinger of Meralco and Calvin Abueva of Alaska are not yet off the hook, according to PBA Commissioner Chito Salud yesterday.
Salud said he will review the video tape of the match between Meralco and Alaska tomorrow and decide whether to hand out more sanctions.
“I will review the incident in my office first thing on Monday and make a determination as to the sufficiency of the technical fouls assessed against both players for their actuations,” said Salud yesterday.
“If the penalties given on court are found to be proportionate to the acts in question, then I will consider the matter closed.”
“Otherwise, I will invite the players involved to hear their side and thereafter mete out the commensurate sanctions,” said Salud, adding that the technical fouls may be upgraded, downgraded or uphold the calls of the referees.
The game was marred by a heated play between Dillinger and Abueva who were each assessed a technical foul or second motion with 10:11 left in the fourth quarter.
At that time, the Bolts were leading the Aces, 65-52.
Meralco eventually won the game, 74-65, to tie Barako Bull at fifth with identical 5-7 win-loss records.
The Aces, on the other hand, dropped to ninth spot with a 4-8 card.
It all started when the 6-foot-2 Abueva blocked the lay-up attempt of the 6-foot-5 Dillinger.
The two fell at the baseline railing but Abueva, after video replays, showed hitting Dillinger twice under his left eye and nose.
Dillinger retaliated by confronting the Alaska sophomore forward – nearly choking him. They were eventually separated by their teammates.
The incident prompted Alaska team owner Fred Uytengsu torush from the patron seat to the commissioner’s row at the opposite side.
Salud said the Alaska boss “wanted some clarification on the incident”, and according to the PBA chief, “as a matter of course, I will conduct my reviews in the office and I assured him that I will do so.”