The PBA has suspended two of its high-ranking officials for committing procedural lapses in handling Cliff Hodge’s case that marred Magnolia’s win over Meralco in their Season 49 Philippine Cup meeting last Wednesday.
Deputy commissioner Eric Castro and technical head Bong Pascual have been punished after the Commissioner’s Office found out several mistakes following a thorough review of the said game, which ended in a rout, 117-92.
Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the Bolts veteran should have been assessed with a flagrant foul penalty two for his take-down foul against Zavier Lucero with 2:16 left to play — and with the game all but settled.
He was only called for an F1 for his move against the sophomore winger, which fans and netizens have been referring to as a pro wrestling maneuver.
“Dapat na-F2 kaagad ‘yun,” Marcial told reporters Friday, adding that both Castro and Pascual are suspended without pay. “Nagkaroon ng lapses sa procedure namin sa technical. Dapat F2 na agad ‘yun eh.”
(C) PBA Images
In rewatching the game tape, the league has also rescinded the technical foul called on another Bolts big man in Raymond Almazan, Marcial said.
Almazan and Lucero were both T’d up for verbal altercation, but the PBA saw that he was only trying to help pacify the situation after coaches and team officials got into a heated argument in the aftermath of Hodge’s foul.
“Tinanggal natin ‘yung technical ni Almazan,” said Marcial. “Kausap ko rin si Almazan kahapon … Nagkamali kami roon, amin ‘yun.”
The PBA cracked the whip on the erring figures on Friday, with Hodge suspended for a game aside from paying a hefty fine of ₱100,000 — penalties that could be harsher should he repeat such actions.
“Sinabi ko ‘pag naulit ulit — kasi dalawang beses na kita pinatawag — mas mas mabigat ‘yung ibibigay kong penalty sa kanya,” Marcial said. “Baka mahaba-habang suspension. Tingnan natin. Pero nagpapa-sorry talaga.”
Hotshots assistant coach Mon Jose has also been slapped with a one-game ban and a ₱20,000 fine as the Commissioner’s Office found evidence that he headbutted Hodge during the bench-clearing commotion.
#WATCH: The PBA has suspended deputy commissioner Eric Castro and technical head Bong Pascual over officiating lapses in Cliff Hodge’s takedown foul on Zav Lucero, says Commissioner Willie Marcial
📹 @justinebacnis /Tiebreaker Times #PBA2025 pic.twitter.com/km5HVCgQjp
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) May 16, 2025
