JERICHO Cruz of San Miguel is not the first player to be suspended for one game after accumulating five technical fouls in a single PBA conference.
The distinction belonged to Rain or Shine big man Beau Belga.
The veteran center was also meted with the same punishment during the 46th Season Governors Cup that made him miss the Elasto Painters’ game against NLEX.
READ Automatic one-game ban keeps Jericho Cruz out of Game 3
Belga was slapped with two technical fouls in Rain or Shine’s previous game against Meralco, which added to the three he incurred before that gave him a maximum five technical fouls in all.
Rain or Shine lost both matches against the Bolts (93-88) and Road Warriors in overtime (109-100).
Under PBA rules, a player will be suspended automatically if he is called for fifive technical fouls in a conference.
A check with the league records bared that only Belga and Cruz had been slapped for committing the same violation.
Whereas Belga’s suspension came during the eliminations, Cruz’s case happened during the course of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Magnolia.
As per PBA rule, Cruz would serve another one game ban if he incurs three more technical foul this conference.
The 33-year-old Cruz was slapped with a T after he stuck out his tonque against Calvin Abueva shortly after nailing a three pointer late in the third quarter of Sunday night’s Game 2.
His suspension led to him sitting out Game Threeon Wednesday night which the Beermen lost, 88-80.
Cruz averaged 9.0 points. 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 steals in the first two games of the title series as the team’s sixth man off the bench. He finished with a series-high 10 points in the 109-84 win in Game 2.
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