MPBL slaps Gensan's Sorela with lifetime ban, ₱200K fine for punching Mindoro's Tibayan

Metro Manila, Philippines - The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has slapped a lifetime ban and a ₱200,000 fine on Gensan Warriors player Michole Sorela for a disqualifying foul on Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws during their 2025 regular season game at the Batangas City Coliseum on Monday, Aug. 11.

The incident happened at the 7:33 mark of the third period, when Sorela sucker punched an unsuspecting Tibayan while they were jockeying for position at the paint, which sent the Mindoro cager crashing to the floor.

Tibayan was then stretchered off the court and rushed to the hospital. He was later diagnosed with a broken jaw and concussion.

"Upon review of the footage of the incident from last night's game between the Mindoro Tamaraws and the GenSan Warriors, the MPBL has meted a lifetime ban on GenSan player Michole Sorela," the MPBL said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Tamaraws eventually won the game, 76-72, with no further incident between the two sides.

"We condemn the incident and the MPBL won't tolerate such actions. It compromises the player's safety and taints the league's image," MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes said.

"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," he added.