SAN MIGUEL Beer forward Arwind Santos has been fined P200,000 by the PBA for his monkey gesture directed at TNT import Terrence Jones in the second quarter of Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Commissioner Willie Marcial, who summoned Santos, said the San Miguel player will also render 100 hours of community service and undergo seminar and counseling on equality and racial discrimination.
“Walang lugar ang racial discrimination sa basketball at sports in general at sa PBA in particular. Hindi pinahihintulutan ng liga yung mga ganung aksyon, at kung maulit pa, mas mabigat na sanction ang ipapataw natin,” said Marcial.
“Bilang Commissioner, humihingi ako ng pasensya at pang-unawa kay Mr. Terrence Jones at sa kanyang pamilya. Ang PBA at tahanan para sa lahat, bukas para sa lahat at walang kinikilalang kulay, lahi o paniniwala.
Marcial said Santos was apologetic during the meeting.
“Humihingi siya ng apology sa lahat ng PBA fans, kay Terrence Jones at sa koponan ng TNT,” said Marcial.
Marcial said Santos will also issue a public apology.
Earlier, Jones called on the PBA to take strong action on the controversial monkey taunt of Santos.
The veteran forward didn’t apologize after the game, saying that it was part of playing mind games with the conference’s Best Import.
“I don’t normally post responses to negative things said about me – but as a father and a black man, this can’t be ignored,” Jones said on his Instagram account on Thursday.
“I came to the PBA to play – and to share my talent – in a country where I have tremendous respect for its culture and its people. My son (eight-year-old Ajani Jones) is of Filipino descent. I cannot and will not tolerate racial slurs and gestures.
“They’re not only disrespectful to me but to my family and my race. I teach my son to be proud of who he is and to be respectful at all. This wasn’t the case of ‘mind games’ in athletic competition – it was racism. Period.
“Swift, significant action needs to be taken by the PBA to send a STRONG, clear message that racism in any form is UNACCEPTABLE and will NOT be tolerated,” Jones added. (JONAS TERRADO)
