Barrios fines TNT for 'wrong uniform' but upholds win over SMB

The number of votes in the board won’t matter in San Miguel Beer’s protest against Talk ‘N Text. The decision is on the hands of one man – Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Sonny Barrios – who decided to turn down the Beermen’s protest and uphold the Tropang Texters’ 93-91 triumph last Saturday in Zamboanga City. Former PBA chairman Joaqui Trillo, Alaska’s board representative who was present during Thursday’s meeting at the PBA Office, explained that the matter doesn’t need board deliberation being an an issue that “only concerns the commissioner."

“It’s a game matter, that’s why it should be the commissioner who should decide on this, not the board," Trillo told GMANews.TV. Trillo was joined in the board meeting by Robert Non of Ginebra, Rene Pardo of Purefoods, Buddy Encarnado of Sta. Lucia, Kenneth Duremdes of Coca-Cola, Mamerto Mondragon of Rain or Shine, Hector Calma of San Miguel Beer, Pato Gregorio of Talk 'N Text, and Raffy Casiao of Barako Bull. San Miguel has protested the game and sought its forfeiture because the Tropang Texters came in dark-colored uniforms for their match instead of their designated light shade. But while Barrios upheld Talk N Text’s win, the Tropang Texters were not spared of a P50,000 fine for bringing the wrong set of uniform. Barrios’ decision, according to Trillo, was done in the “best interest of the public." “The game was shown on national television and watched by thousands of Zamboangueños live. They saw how great the game was and how Talk 'N Text won over San Miguel. You don’t want to change what really happened during the game," said Trillo. Both Talk ‘N Text and San Miguel, according to Trillo, “presented their cases well and accepted the decision of the commissioner wholeheartedly." A different case This is not the first time a team brought in a wrong set of uniform in a PBA game. Like Talk ‘N Text, Presto carried the wrong jerseys during its game against the visiting Emtex Brazil in the 1977 Invitational Cup at the Araneta Coliseum. The game was forfeited in favor of the Brazilians. But Barrios, according to Trillo, saw a difference between the two cases. “I believe it happened before, but the one that happened before took place in Manila while this one happened in Zamboanga, so Commissioner Barrios gave a one-hour allowance before the game started," said Trillo. “Logistics and other factors were considered in the Commissioner’s decision." Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes in a text message said Barrios’ decision was “the right thing to do." - GMANews.TV