MAGNOLIA point guard Mark Barroca escaped suspension on Thursday after he was fined P50,000 for hitting Chris Banchero in the groin area in Game Four of the PBA Governors’ Cup finals.
Barroca was slapped with the fine after he was caught hitting Banchero with a closed fist to the groin late in Wednesday night’s 90-76 win by Alaska in Game Four that tied the series at 2-2.
Alaska coach Alex Compton, meanwhile, was also fined P20,000 for what PBA labelled as "statements detrimental to the league."
Compton was critical of the league on Wednesday following the incident between Banchero and Barroca.
“If we’re gonna get punched multiple times and there aren’t calls or suspensions, I’ve got a problem with that,” said Compton after Game Four, who also called the incident as “dirty basketball.”
“If you are not going to call that in the game, you are not going to have anything, punch in, as we say in my family to our kids, the male part. That’s literally a low blow. And I’m not happy about it one bit,” said Compton.
Barroca, meanwhile, sidestepped questions about the incident and didn’t issue an apology when interviewed by reporters. Banchero was unavailable for comment after Game Four.
Commissioner Willie Marcial later explained that the referees' failure to make a call on the play ruled out a suspension for Barroca.
Here's the follow-up story:
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