What is the difference between a flagrant-one foul and a flagrant-two? That is the question lingering in Calvin Abueva’s head right now.
Abueva, a six-year pro, has seen his share of hard fouls. He has been slapped of all sorts. Holding, defensive, blocking, offensive, technical, flagrant, disqualifying – you name it, he has done it. Moreover, he has experienced it as well.
Friday evening, with 4:11 left in the Phoenix Fuel Masters’ game against the San Miguel Beermen, Abueva was strangled by San Miguel import Kevin Murphy. In an off-ball box out situation, the 6-foot-4 American caught the 6-foot-2 native of Angeles City with what seemed to be like a choke-hold. And Murphy did not let go, even dragging Abueva to the barriers and almost into the crowd.
After a brief review, Murphy was only handed a flagrant-one foul that would only result in a three-minute benching, free throws, and ball possession.
In Abueva’s mind, it was just a simple slap in the wrist. And he was livid, even after the game.
“Try ko rin kaya para malaman kung gaano ka-F2 o F1 yun,” a frustrated Abueva told Waylon Galvez of the Manila Bulletin as he stormed off the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
When asked about the incident, a league official has said that they will re-review what happened.
