The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League has handed Michole Sorela of the Gensan Warriors a lifetime ban and a P200,000 fine for a disqualifying foul that sent Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws to the hospital during their Manny Pacquiao presents 1xBet-MPBL 2025 Season game at the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday night.
Sorela struck Tibayan in the face with his right hand while both were jockeying for position. He sent the 6-foot-3 forward crashing to the floor with serious injuries, including a concussion, broken jaw, busted lip, and a fractured shoulder sustained from the fall.
After reviewing footage of the incident, MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes imposed the sanctions.
“We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won’t tolerate such actions. It compromises the player’s safety and taints the league’s image. I’ve seen the worst (in basketball), and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior,” said Duremdes, a PBA all-time great.
Sorela also faces a probable lifetime ban and revocation of license from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), which supervises the MPBL.
The P200,000 fine surpasses the P100,000 penalty imposed on Germy Mahinay, then playing for the Negros Muscovados, for undercutting a driving Joey Barcuma of Zamboanga Family’s Brand Sardines in 2024. Mahinay was likewise given a lifetime ban by the GAB for that incident.
Tibayan was stretchered off and taken to a local hospital before being transferred to New Era Hospital in Manila for further examination and evaluation by team owner Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz (also known as Ina Alegre).
The Mindoro Tamaraws won 76-72 to improve their record to 13-10, just behind the 13-9 mark of the Gensan Warriors in the round-robin elimination phase of the 30-team tournament.
Bamban Gamalinda led Mindoro with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists, followed by Wendelino Comboy with 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Josph Sedurifa with 12 points and 7 rebounds.
GenSan was paced by Kyle Tolentino, who posted 21 points and 10 rebounds; Chris Masaglang with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals; and Anthony Bringas, who added 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
In the nightcap, Mark Cruz scored on a follow-up with 0.3 seconds left to lift the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters past the Bacolod Tubo Slashers, 60-58.
Trailing 38-44 after three quarters, Batangas rallied with 12 points to seize control and then held off Bacolod to improve to 14-8.
Levi Hernandez and Cedrick Ablaza led Batangas with 14 points apiece.
Bacolod, now 3-19, got 13 points each from Mark Ray Dubouzet and Jaycee Sam Adjei, and 11 points from Mark Ray Malazarte.
In the opener, Sarangani relied on their free-throw accuracy to subdue Muntinlupa, 72-68, improving to 9-13.
Kyt Jimenez, Jeff Viernes, and Danny Marilao made two free throws each in the final 44 seconds as the Sarangani Grippers overcame 11-point efforts from both Dom Matillano and Kurt Lojera, dropping the Cagers to 10-11 — tied with the Basilan Starhorse Portmasters.
Jimenez shone with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals; Larce Sunga contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds; and Marilao added 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
The MPBL continues Tuesday at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum in Palayan City, featuring Cebu vs. Pasig at 4:00 PM, Pangasinan vs. Zamboanga at 6:00 PM, and Binan vs. Nueva Ecija at 8:00 PM.
