ALASKA coach Luigi Trillo said the PBA Commissioner’s Office should look into the 'sneak' punch thrown by Meralco guard Gary David at Bill Walker during the Aces import's scuffle with Danny Ildefonso in a heated tune-up match on Tuesday at the Meralco gym.
Trillo said a video replay in Alaska's possession clearly showed David coming out of nowhere and landing a punch on Walker just as the NBA veteran forward was being restrained by Alaska teammates and Meralco players in a fight that erupted at the 7:13 mark of the fourth quarter.
“I think (PBA) commissioner (Chito Salud) has to look at it (scuffle), find the guys, suspend the guys accordingly,” Trillo told Spin.ph shortly after the game which the Aces lost, 110-103.
“This is not his (David) fight. David comes out of nowhere, and with a direct hit in the face (of Walker). He had a closed fist, which landed for sure,” added the Alaska mentor.
The reigning Coach of the Year pointed out David did the same thing during the scuffle involving Alaska sophomore forward Calvin Abueva and Meralco’s Jared Dillinger during an elimination round match in the Philippine Cup last January 14.
“He (David) did it with Calvin and Jared Dillinger. I think he was just fined very minimal with it,” said Trillo.
Back in January, Abueva was fined a total of P13,000 after Salud reviewed the incident involving Dillinger, who was slapped P10,000. David, who was seen raising his right arm with a closed fist in the direction of Abueva, got away with a P3,000 fine.
Although Trillo admitted the 6-foot-4 Walker lost his cool after throwing the ball at Ildefonso that prompted the two-time league MVP to retaliate, he claimed his import was hit time and again during the course of the game.
“He (Walker) just has to control his emotions. The refs can stop it if it’s dirty, but again, we (Aces coaching staff) need to do a better job controlling his emotions as well,” he said.
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