Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Coach Frankie Lim received a one-game suspension plus a P50,000 fine following what appeared to be a physical contact with Alaska player Calvin Abueva during their PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal game last Friday.
Lim’s punishment came after being summoned by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud yesterday for the incident that happened late in the third quarter of their game.
League rules impose heavy fines on physical contact between opposing players and coaches as well as with referees.
Video footage appears to show Lim nudging Abueva who fell down near the Ginebra bench. The Alaska player had exchanged words with Kings import Orlando Johnson seconds earlier.
Lim, Abueva and Johnson, as well as Ginebra’s LA Tenorio, were all assessed with a technical foul each.
The incident seemed to have fueled Alaska which came from behind to win, 114-108, denying Ginebra a chance to force a rubber match.
The loss marked another disappointing finish for Ginebra, which last won the title in the 2008 Fiesta Conference.
As a result, insiders said a coaching change at Ginebra might again be in the offing. The ballclub has been known to change coaches when the fortunes of the Kings fall.