MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel Beer playmaker Chris Ross was heavily fined while all four referees and two table officials who worked on the San Miguel Beer-Barangay Ginebra game were meted suspension for the erroneous incident that marred the contest Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial slapped Ross a fine of P20,000 for issuing statements detrimental to the league plus a separate fine of P5,800 for two technical fouls committed in the game.
Referees Jerry Borja, Noy Guevarra, Jimmy Mariano and Mardy Montoya, book scorer Lito Mendegoria and barker Noel Zarate drew suspension for allowing a wrong free throw shooter to shoot.
Borja incurred the severest sanction of a three-week suspension being the “calling official.” The five other erring officials were suspended for a week.
Meanwhile, TNT KaTropa forward Troy Rosario drew a fine of P5,000 for a landing spot infraction against Paul Lee during the TNT-Magnolia game.
“The message here is if there’s an error committed and there’s sanction to be done, we’ll do it,” said Marcial.
Marcial said the referees admitted their mistake and expressed apologies for the slipup in the closing seconds of the match won by Ginebra at 100-96.
Chico Lanete drew a foul from Sol Mercado on a rebound play as called by Borja with 4.5 ticks to go with the Gin Kings in penalty situation.
However, Guevarra, the free throw administrator, handed the ball instead to Ross.
The error was corrected after Ross had taken a shot that he missed.
Ross was then called a technical infraction, and the Gin Kings sealed their win on a charity by LA Tenorio.