What do Renaldo Balkman and Daniel Orton have in common?
Both players are now recipients of the biggest penalty fine ever imposed on imports by the PBA. Daniel Orton was slapped with a P250,000 fine last Friday, for his boo-boo after criticizing the officiating and Manny Pacquiao’s involvement in the league as playing coach of expansion team Kia.
The PBA Commissioner’s Office issued a statement, confirming that the P250,000 will stay regardless of what course of action Purefoods management will take regarding the disgruntled NBA veteran.
“For issuing comments that are disparaging, disrespectful of and offensive to his host league, the game officials and a fellow player and head coach of a member team, a penalty of 250,000 pesos is hereby imposed on Mr. Orton,” said PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
“Regardless of what action his ballclub may take regarding his status, this office disapproves of and frowns upon the cavalier manner in which Mr. Orton issued his comments and the unwarranted antics and liberties he has taken with the league and a fellow player. This insulting behavior will never be condoned by this league,” added the commissioner.
The league slapped Orton with a hefty fine after his strong comments following his team’s loss to Pacquiao’s Kia Carnival and calling his involvement as well as how the officiating was handled “a big joke”.
Renaldo Balkman, former import of Petron Blaze, was also fined the same amount and was banned for life for choking his own teammate, Arwind Santos a few years ago.
Bring back Marqus Blakely
There’s a strong campaign being issued on social media by Purefoods fans: Bring back Marqus Blakely!
This happened in the aftermath of Orton’s careless move when he criticized the officiating as well as Manny Pacquiao’s involvement in the Philippine Basketball Association as playing coach of expansion team Kia Carnival.
Blakely is the do-it-all and a former Best Import of the squad. He led his team to two championships capped by a grand slam last season, but had to leave for the US to repair his shoulder injury.
While Orton was unavailable at the time, Blakely served as the team’s temporary reinforcement, and led the team to a 4-0 record.
Now fans want their hero back in the lineup even though Blakely is still scheduled to play for the squad in the season-ending Governors’ Cup.
