Getting tough with players

KUALA LUMPUR: The Asean Basketball League (ABL) are getting tough with players for misconduct — sending a message across that unsporting behaviour will not be tolerated.

Fines have been imposed on the players involved in the brawl when AirAsia Philippine Patriots and San Miguel Beermen played last weekend.

After careful review of the game footage, as well as reports from the officials, the league has confirmed that fines for undisclosed amounts have been served on AirAsia Philippine Patriots for clearing the bench during a game.

Furthermore, Patriots’ Anthony Johnson (pic) and Frederick Rodriguez will also be slapped with fines as well as a one-game suspension for fighting and violent behaviour for their part in the altercation.

Ardy Larong will be suspended for one match for an unsportsmanlike foul in an unrelated incident during the third quarter of this game.

Meanwhile, Beermen’s Aries Dimaunahan will be fined and handed a one-game suspension for committing a flagrant foul which sparked the altercation and Jun Cabatu has also been handed the same punishment for unsportsmanlike behaviour for his part in the brawl.

This action follows fines that were recently served on Singapore Slingers’ Donald Little and KL Dragons’ Nicholas Belasco, who were involved in an incident when the two teams went head-to-head last month.

ABL are cracking down on improper conduct by players and teams, which also includes off-court antics as evidenced by another fine imposed on Patriots’ Nakiea Miller who made disparaging remarks on his Twitter account about another team in the league last month.

A list of offences and the penalties have been sent to all the teams. The teams have 24 hours to appeal. The suspensions will be effective after this weekend’s matches.