(CNN Philippines) — On Thursday (April 23), the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) fined Talk ’N Text’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser and Jireh Ibanes a hefty amount of P40,000 each following their shoving match that sparked a scuffle at the 9:47 mark of the fourth period of Game 4 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals.
Related: Talk ’N Text evens series with win over Rain or Shine in fight-marred Game 4
Quinahan was also slapped with a P40,000 fine that came with a one-game suspension “for throwing the ball at the face of Ganuelas Rosser” and for the Flagrant Foul Penalty 2.
“The Office considers the act of hitting an opponent with the basketball a highly-provocative and treacherous act,” commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement released Thursday (April 23) afternoon.
“It is not unlike throwing a punch without warning and worse, without the attendant risk of retaliation. We did not find this factual condition in the incident involving Rosser and Ibanes.”
For taking a fighting stance immediately after his act, Quinahan was meted an additional P10,000 fine.
“These non-basketball moves and actuations will be called,” Salud said.
“As we remind both teams that the responsibility of playing the game on its merits ultimately rests on them, the game officials have been directed to take the appropriate measures to prevent recurrence of these incidents. “
Also read: Rain or Shine coach Guiao says PBA refs have lost control of series
