The Philippine Patriots suffered a major blow to their finals bid after the Asean Basketball League slapped Ardy Larong with a two-game suspension for headbutting an Indonesian player during their semifinal opener last Sunday.
Larong's suspension was handed down after a video review confirmed that he headbutted Indonesia Warriors’ Stanley Pringle late in the fourth quarter in Game One of their best-of-three series.
The incident was Larong’s third offense of the season, leading to the stiffer penalty. The Patriots can appeal the decision within 24 hours.
Larong will miss the remaining two games of the series against the Warriors, who are one win away from advancing to the finals.
The Warriors defeated the Patriots, 73-64, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig over the weekend to steal homecourt advantage in the series. Game Two is set on June 3 at the Mahaka Square in Jakarta.
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