By Jonas Terrado
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial on Tuesday suspended NLEX’s Poy Erram and Paul Varilla for their do-or-die Governors’ Cup quarterfinal match against NorthPort at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
NorthPort’s Sean Anthony had to restrain import Michael Qualls after getting involved in a scuffle with NLEX’s Paul Varilla and Poy Erram, first and second from right, during Monday’s PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (PBA Images)
Erram and Varilla were banned for Wednesday’s crucial tiff for their roles in a scuffle with import Michael Qualls with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter of the Batang Pier’s 115-90 victory the other day at the Big Dome.
The league also handed Erram a P50,000 fine while Varilla was asked to pay P40,000, leaving top seed NLEX shorthanded for the game that will give the winner a spot in the semifinals against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.
NorthPort is eyeing to become the first No. 8 seed since Powerade back in the 2012 Philippine Cup to beat the top-ranked team in the quarters.
The game on Wednesday will be the last before the league takes a break for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Meanwhile, NorthPort’s Christian Standhardinger and NLEX’s Kiefer Ravena and Philip Paniamogan were also fined by the league office.
Standhardinger and Paniamogan were given P5,000 each for Flagrant Foul 1 infractions while Ravena was given a P1,000 fine due to a technical foul.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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