NLEX caught off-guard by last-minute Asi suspension in loss to Ginebra

Asi Taulava could only watch the game at home and tweet when NLEX played against Barangay Ginebra on Wednesday night.

The 43-year-old center was suspended by the league after his slapping incident with David Semerad in the Road Warriors' loss to San Miguel Beermen on Friday.

Taulava, however, was only summoned to the PBA office on Tuesday, a day before the game against the Gin Kings.

With NLEX having already practiced with the veteran Fil-Tongan for three days, the team did not have time to adjust their game plan based on his absence.

"It's the decision of the PBA so we just have to abide [by] that," said coach Boyet Fernandez. "We played Wednesday so the suspension should've come on Saturday or Sunday since nandoon naman kami."

Without Taulava, the Road Warriors lost 85-72 against a Ginebra squad also missing the services of 7-foot center Greg Slaughter.

But Fernandez said he does not want to dwell on Taulava's late suspension and blame it for the loss, saying that the team hung on for three quarters.

"Nawala rin post threat namin kaya medyo na-caught off guard kami pero we were in the game and it was just a matter of us grinding it out," he said.

"I'm happy also that commissioner (Chito Narvasa) has given Asi a chance to explain his side but eventually the suspension was there," he said. "Wala na tayong magagawa doon." —JST, GMA News