PBA commissioner Willie Marcial admonished Magnolia deputy coach Mon Jose for adding fuel to the fire in the bench-clearing incident that marred the Philippine Cup game between the Hotshots and Meralco Bolts last Wednesday.
In his talk with Jose at the league office on Friday, Marcial reminded the former PBA player that coaches should be the ones responsible for keeping the players’ tempers in check - not inflame it.
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“Sabi ko sa kanya dapat kayong mga coaches ang unang-una na dapat umaawat,” said the commissioner on what he told Jose when he was summoned along with Meralco’s Cliff Hodge.
The hard tackle the 37-year-old Meralco forward did on Magnolia sophomore Zavier Lucero in the endgame of a 117-92 win nearly sparked a melee between the two teams at midcourt just in front of the scorer’s table.
It was during that moment when Jose was caught on video committing a headbutt on Hodge, who suffered a small bruise just above his left cheek.
Hodge himself told mediamen in a post-game interview about a Magnolia assistant coach headbutting him.
Meralco active consultant Nenad Vucinic saw what Jose did to Hodge and told Magnolia team manager Alvin Patrimonio about it.
Jose, who later apologized after admitting his action, was fined P20,000 and suspended for one game owing to the infraction.
Marcial said Jose’s case already had a precedent in the past committed by veteran coach Yeng Guiao.
The Magnolia assistant coach came along with Patrimonio and Lucero, who was actually not summoned but appeared in the PBA office to explain his side on the incident.
For his part, Hodge was slapped with a P100,000 fine and will serve a one-game suspension.
Hodge was accompanied by Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo.
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