PBA hits D-League coach Alvin Pua with lifetime ban, P500k fine for punching referee

The PBA threw the book at Alvin Pua, the coach of the D-League's Cagayan Valley Rising Suns who punched a referee during a game on Thursday.

League commissioner Chito Salud announced a lifetime ban and a fine of P500,000 on Friday for Pua, who punched referee Benjie Montero during the game between Cagayan Valley and Livermarin.

"There is plainly no room for hotheads and hooligans in basketball, let alone other sports. Mauling a game official can never be justified in any way," Salud said in a statement.

The commissioner noted Pua's history of having physical altercations with referees.

"This is not the first time that Coach Pua has had brushes and altercations with the referees. On previous occasions the league has sanctioned Coach Pua for physically contacting the referees during official and tune-up games with hefty fines and game suspensions," said Salud.

"This is the last straw. In the highest interest of sportsmanship and the norms of human decency, the league is hereby imposing a lifetime ban on Coach Pua from all PBA related activities for mauling a referee and for his recalcitrant and incorrigible demeanor."

The PBA will also urge the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country's basketball federation, to ban Pua from other basketball tournaments.

The league will also provide legal assistance for Montero if the referee chooses to file charges against Pua in court. Montero was reportedly rushed to the hospital after the game for a wound from Pua's punches.

Cagayan team manager Frederic Collado, meanwhile, while also slapped with a P20,000 fine "for criticizing the quality of officiating in order to justify Coach Pua's transgression." -- JST, GMA News