Vic Manuel was apologetic following his suspension by Alaska for playing in a ‘ligang labas’ game recently.
The Aces have barred the 6-foot-4 forward from joining team practices for a week after playing in a non-PBA sanctioned game outside Manila recently, without the permission of Alaska’s top brass.
“Sinuspend nila ako one week. Sa Monday mag-usap uli kami,” the 32-year-old Manuel said during the league’s Media Day at Okada Manila on Thursday, a day after reports of his suspension came out.
“Suspended sa team lang. ‘Pag nagpa-practice naman sila, andun pa rin ako, pero ‘di ako pwede mag-join sa kanila. Dun lang ako sa gilid. Nakakalungkot.”
Manuel then admitted that the Aces’ bosses felt disappointed after the incident. The game had taken place Laguna, and saw him play with Jio Jalalon and the suspended Calvin Abueva.
A video uploaded to Facebook on a certain page named Kalan + Banga last February 23 shows the three playing in a game along with some foreign players.
Meanwhile, Jalalon has been suspended by the Magnolia Hotshots indefinitely, as per head coach Chito Victolero.
“Siyempre sina boss Dickie [Bachmann] at coach [Jeff Cariaso] na-disappoint sa ‘kin. Kasi ang ganda nung week namin, tapos pagdating ng weekend ginawa ko ‘yun,” Manuel said.
“Monday pinagalitan nila ako. Wala naman ako masabi kasi ginawa ko. Sorry na lang ako.”
This isn’t the first time that Manuel has faced suspension for playing in a ligang labas game, though. He and then-Aces teammate Ping Exciminiano were caught in 2016, and were both slapped with a one-game ban.
So now, Manuel has learned his lesson, especially after commissioner Willie Marcial said that he will hand out a hefty fine plus suspension to players whom the league catches in similar incidents.
“Kailangan na madala,” Manuel said. “Magkausap kami ni Comm kahapon. Sabi niya paalam daw sa team tapos ‘pag pinaalam sa team, dapat ipaalam din sa kanya.
“Sabi ko hindi ko na uulitin.”
