THE MPBL has slapped Michole Sorela of the Gensan Warriors with a lifetime ban and a P200,000 fine for a disqualifying foul that sent Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws to the hospital during their MPBL 2025 Season game at the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday night.
Solera punched an unsuspecting Tibayan on the face while they were jostling for position, sending the 6-foot-3 forward to the floor with a concussion, broken jaw, a busted lip, and a fractured shoulder incurred from the impact of the fall.
READ Tibayan taken to hospital after Sorela sucker punch
Upon reviewing the footage of the incident, MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes decided on the record sanctions.
"We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won't tolerate such actions. It compromises the player's safety and taints the league's image.
"I've seen the worst (in basketball) and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior," said Duremdes, a PBA all-time great.
Sorela also faces a probable lifetime ban and revocation of license from the (GAB) Games and Amusements Board supervising the MPBL.
The P200,000 fine surpassed the P100,000 penalty Germy Mahinay, then playing for the Negros Muscovados," got for undercutting a driving Joey Barcuma of Zamboanga Family's Brand Sardines, in 2024. Mahinay was also slapped with a lifetime ban by the GAB for the same incident.
Tibayan was stretchered out, brought to a local hospital, and was later transferred to the New Era Hospital in Manila for further examination and evaluation by team owner Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz (also known as Ina Alegre).
The Mindoro Tamaraws won, 76-72, to raise their record to 13-10, just behind the 13-9 slate of their victims in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Bamban Gamalinda led the Tamaraws with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists, followed by Wendelino Comboy with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, and Josph Sedurifa with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
GenSan drew 21 points and 10 rebounds from Kyle Tolentino, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals from Chris Masaglang, and 12 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists from Anthony Bringas.
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