A hefty fine awaits controversial Purefoods Star Hotshots import Daniel Orton, who issued offensive comments regarding the league’s officiating and Manny Pacquiao’s role as playing coach of expansion team Kia Carnival.
Orton, an NBA veteran, was asked to appear at the Commissioner’s Office 1 p.m. on Friday.
The former Orlando Magic stalwart has been criticized by fans on social media for issuing strong statements against Pacquiao, the boxing icon, who became a PBA player following his appointment as playing coach of Kia and being selected by the squad as its first round pick.
On Wednesday night, Pacquiao scored the first point of his PBA career, but Orton wasn’t pleased at all.
“Seriously, it’s a big joke,” said Orton. “This game was a joke. Manny Pacquiao, that’s part of the joke I was talking about. Professional boxer? Okay. Congressman? Alright, but professional basketball player? No. It’s a joke. Seriously, it’s a joke,” Orton told mediamen after the game.
Frustrated at how his game was affected due to foul trouble, Orton then was critical about how the referees officiated the game.
“They made a mockery of the game with the way the referees were handling the calls,” he said. “If this is a physical league, why can’t I be physical? They were letting it at the other end so maybe I can get the same way. But they were calling ticky-tacky fouls on me.”
