PBA fines Ginebra's Mark Caguioa for bashing referees

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

PBA fines Ginebra's Mark Caguioa for bashing referees

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has slapped Barangay Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa with a P20,000 fine for the latter’s unfavorable statements against PBA referees.

“Mark Caguioa was fined by the league the amount of P20,000 for tweeting and issuing statements to media critical of officiating and considered inimical to the interest of the PBA,” PBA commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement.

Salud handed down his decision following a meeting with the Ginebra superstar.

Following the Gin King’s 99-102 loss to Alaska last Sunday, the “Spark” criticized the PBA referees for sloppy officiating.

“So pwede pala sa PBA yung travelling noh? Ksi d naman nila tinatawag on both teams eh,” Caguioa said through his official Twitter account. (Mark Caguioa@officialMC47)

The player was later quoted in an interview as saying that the referees were turning a blind eye particularly on Alaska import Wendell McKines.

“Makikita mo na parang bulag talaga dahil hindi nila nakita yung travelling ni (Alaska import) McKines nung huli. Hindi nila nakita yun then hindi rin nakita yun foul,” Caguioa told AKTV.

“I suggest na kung hindi makikita ng mga referees yung ganun, I think we should add three more referees.”

Salud, however, said the player should have addressed his complaint directly to the league office to resolve the issue instead of making public statements.

“Mr. Caguioa realized he should have ventilated his issues to the league office directly for proper remedial action which by rule and long-standing policy is the procedure that players, coaches and team officials must observe.”