TROPANG TNT management is hoping for the best, but is likewise prepared for the worst as far as Ivan Johnson’s lifetime ban from the PBA is concerned.
League commissioner Chito Narvasa has opened the door for a TNT appeal on the lifetime ban and P250,000 penalty he slapped on the import. He is set to hand down a final decision on Wednesday.
“We respect whatever decision the commissioner will make,” TNT manager Virgil Villavicencio said. “We won’t go against that.”
“But we have to move on,” he was quick to add. “We have to make some adjustments.”
[See Narvasa accepts Johnson apology, eyes 'win-win solution']
Villavicencio said TNT is primarily appealing for a reduction of Johnson’s fine.
If Johnson’s ban gets lifted and reduced to just a handful of games in the Commissioner’s Cup, that will leave the Texters crippled as they are prohibited from fielding a replacement import temporarily.
Villavicencio said there are two imports standing by in case the ban on Johnson stays.
“May nakapilang dalawa,” he said.
“We have to look at it as, ‘Saan kami?’ Kung ban o suspension, it’s got to be a win-win (solution), ‘di ba?” Villavicenco added.
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