PBA slaps P20K fine on KaTropa import
MANILA, Philippines — They’re only halfway there and the TNT KaTropa recognize all the blood, sweat and tears it will still take to get them closer and closer to that cherished goal.
“We haven’t really done anything yet,” TNT consultant Mark Dickel said after the KaTropa clawed back from 17 points down to beat San Miguel Beer in an emotionally-charged Game 3, 115-105, for a 2-1 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup title series.
“This is a best-of-seven, whoever gets four wins, so we can’t afford to celebrate. We have lots to do to complete the job,” said veteran KaTropa Jayson Castro.
Riding on the momentum from the Friday’s W, the Terrence Jones-bannered KaTropa gun for a commanding 3-1 lead in the series tonight at the Big Dome.
“We got to come back again Sunday and play another good game to give ourselves a chance,” said Dickel ahead of Game 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, stressing that San Miguel is “a really difficult team to play against” and “they’re a champion team for a reason.”
The PBA, meanwhile, has upgraded Jones’ flagrant 1 foul on Chris Ross halfway through the first quarter last Friday to a flagrant 2, and has imposed a P20,000 fine on the TNT import.
Jones, the leading candidate for Best Import, was slapped a flagrant 1 for his headbutt on Ross, and had to stay on the bench for three minutes. But upon review of the incident by league officials yesterday, his infraction was upgraded to flagrant 2, which normally would have led to an ejection. He escaped suspension.
San Miguel’s Christian Standhardinger was also fined P5,000 for a flagrant 1 on Jones late in the third quarter.
The Beermen, with a rich winning tradition and pride, aren’t about to get disheartened by their predicament.
“We’re still in contention. It’s only 2-1. We’re still alive,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.
“Everybody’s got to be ready, we got to slow the game down and play our game, play San Miguel Beer basketball, that’s about it,” said Beermen import Chris McCullough on how they’re going to make it an even series in the 6:35 p.m. match.
The highly-touted Jones has been living up to expectations in the series, making baskets, crashing the board, feeding the open man, anchoring the defense, essentially providing the spark for TNT.
But he has another task at hand – dealing with mind games employed by his SMB defenders.
“Terrence was great. Just not getting into it with San Miguel and its antics. He just kept playing and gave us rhythm out there. When he has good rhythm, our other guys tend to make their shots,” said Dickel.
Ross, who got a busted lip and a lump from his run-ins with Jones, went to the extent of calling the TNT import a “baby.”
“He’s mentally a baby. I got attacked (headbutted) for no reason,” he said.
Asked for comment, Jones said: “I don’t know. I don’t have too much to say about that. I’m trying to win game by game and we did that tonight (Friday). We just try to move forward and win Game 4.”