CALVIN Abueva expressed surprise about the hefty fine slapped on him by the PBA for ‘instigating’ the commotion that almost led to a full-blown scuffle in Game Two of the Smart Bro-Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“Totoo ba yung fine sa akin? Kakabasa lang namin sa inyo,” the enigmatic Alaska forward asked Spin.ph shortly after Thursday’s team practice at the Gatorade Hoops Center about the P41,600 fine meted on him by league commissioner Chito Narvasa.
“Grabe, sobrang laki naman 'nun.”
Despite the astounding penalty – the biggest so far meted in the league’s 41st season – Abueva said he’s not about to slow down and slacken the rest of the best-of-seven series.
“Semifinals na ito, playoffs. Iba na ang laro dito, mas aggressive,” he noted. “Ano pa ba ang dapat i-expect.”
[See Abueva fined P41,600 for 'instigating' commotion in GlobalPort-Alaska match]
Abueva bore the brunt of the total P91,200 fine for the commotion that marred the Aces’ 100-76 win over the Batang Pier in a game that saw a total of a record-tying 16 technical fouls called on the two teams combined.
The Alaska stalwart was fined P20,000 for instigating the near-brawl incident, P10,000 for confronting GlobalPort governor and league vice chairman Erick Arejola, another P10,000 for a similar confrontation with Batang Pier Anthony Semerad and Jay Washington, and P1,600 for second motion.
He said compensating the fines is definitely on him.
“Siyempre sa akin,” when asked who will foot the bill of the penalty.
Still, Abueva said he’ll remain assertive in his plays for the Aces come Friday’s Game Three at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Bahala na siguro ang mga referees (to control the game),” he said.