PBA Philippine Cup: Cabagnot, Peek cleared to play in Game 7

Bad news for both Alex Cabagnot and Ali Peek: the flagrant fouls they committed in Game Six of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series that were initially ruled penalty 1 have been upgraded to penalty 2.

 

But good news for both Petron and Talk 'N Text:as Cabagnot and Peek will still be eligible to play in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the series, Wednesday at the Astrodome.

 

League commissioner Chito Salud decided to raise to flagrant foul penalty 2 the call made on Cabagnot and Peek when he met with both players Tuesday at the PBA office, although the two will still be able to suit up for their respective teams when they clash for the right to play in the Finals of the All-Filipino tournament.

 

The players, however, have been levied with hefty fines for committing hard fouls. Cabagnot was slapped with a P20,000 fine for the clothesline he did against Peek, who was penalized P10,000 for pushing Joseph Yeo while the Petron shooting guard was driving to the basket.

 

"It does not merit a suspension on either player," said Salud in a statement. "The contact was not intentional, it was not vicious to merit a suspension."

           

Salud stressed that as commissioner, he "has the discretion to downgrade or upgrade or adjust the penalty."

           

On a related note, Salud downgraded the flagrant foul penalty 1 called on Talk 'N Text’s Larry Fonacier to an ordinary foul.

           

The Tropang Texters, the defending Philippine Cup champions, forged the do-or-die duel after winning Game 6, 111-108, that leveled the best-of-seven series to three games apiece. — AMD/JVP, GMA News