The PBA Commissioner’s Office has fined Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva P100,000 for mocking San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent during Game 2 of the Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup Finals last Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
League rules say “[A]ny person who offends the dignity of any person on account of ‘physical disability’ shall be subject to a fine not lower than P 100,000.”
The incident happened at 9:52 into the fourth quarter. In full view of the public, Abueva made a gesture mocking the veteran mentor’s physical disability.
Gallent lost his right eye in a motorcycle accident, which ended his collegiate career with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
Abueva told the commissioner that he had already apologized to Gallent later that night, which the 55-year-old bench tactician has accepted.
The 36-year-old bruiser on Tuesday appeared before the Commissioner’s Office after he and Beermen forward Mo Tautua’a were summoned by Marcial regarding the shouting incident that transpired after Game 2.
Abueva got into a heated altercation with Tautua’a’s wife while on his way out of the venue, in an incident that also saw him challenge his former Gilas Pilipinas teammate to a fistfight, although no such thing occurred.
After the conference with the commissioner, which took place shortly past lunch, the two were given some time alone in the room to talk things over.
“Abueva apologized to the PBA and to Tautuaa and his wife. Nagkausap at nagkaayos na sila,” said Marcial, who warned both players that a repetition of such incident will be dealt with a heavier penalty.
Game 3 is on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, with San Miguel looking to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-7 series.
