PBA firm on forfeiture

PBA commissioner Jun Bernardino yesterday said he would stand pat on his decision forfeiting the expansion ballclub's won games where the controversial Kerby Raymundo played.

Bernardino invoked an article of the league's by-laws in handing down the decision and, at the same time, stressed he properly advised Red Bull of the consequences when they launched their investigation on Raymundo's case.

The PBA Commissioner's Office received yesterday Red Bull's appeal which PBA executive director Sonny Barrios described as "tame" with Red Bull alternate board representative George Balagtas reaffirming their commitment to always follow the league rules.

Bernardino said he wrote Red Bull team manager Tony Chua a letter on March 9, advising him of the penalties in case Raymundo is proven ineligible to play in the league this year.

The commissioner said he specified in the letter the team would forfeit any won game where Raymundo played if the Department of Education, Culture and Sports confirmed the PBA Commissioner's Office findings that the player submitted fraudulent papers to be able to join the Energizers in their entry in the league this season.

Regarding Red Bull's claim that the commissioner approved Raymundo's continued stint in the league despite the league's ongoing investigation on the player, Bernardino made no denial on it but defended himself.

"True, we allowed Kerby to play but they were fully aware of the consequences in the event the investigation showed that Kerby was ineligible. And I never said I would waive any of those penalties," said Bernardino.

"Remember, the league, at that time, has yet to wrap up the investigation. What if it turned out that Kerby was eligible to play after all? If we didn't allow Kerby to play, that would be tantamount to denying Red Bull the services of a legitimate player," he added.

And Bernardino stressed a certain article of the PBA by-laws which he said covers cases involving questions on age or scholastic records.

The commissioner pointed out the same ruling can't apply to Fil-foreigners with pending cases before the Bureau of Immigration, saying the league board has passed a separate resolution governing Fil-foreign players.

The board, according to Bernardino, allowed Fil-foreign players with pending cases to continue playing in the league.

Earlier, Red Bull officials cited the cases of Purefoods and Sta. Lucia where the ballclubs were spared of game forfeiture although Fil-foreign players Al Segova and Rob Parker were ruled ineligible to play in the league by the BI. -