Ginebra players fined but not suspended

MANILA, Philippines – Ginebra guard Junthy Valenzuela escaped suspension and was merely slapped with a P1,000 fine for incurring two technical fouls in Game Six of the Smart-Philippine Basketball Association Fiesta Conference Finals. With Valenzuela in tow for Game Seven Wednesday, the Gin Kings will be assured of a battle-tested veteran when they shoot for the championship against Air21 at the Araneta Coliseum. The former Red Bull guard was thrown out of the court with 1:50 to go in the game Sunday when he drew his second technical foul after an ill-advised second motion against Express guard Gary David. He was whistled for his first technical against Ranidel de Ocampo also for the same reason. Mark Caguioa was also meted a P5,000 fine for a flagrant foul-1 he committed against Arwind Santos in the second quarter, a terrifying incident for Santos who landed on his back after getting hit mid-air by Caguioa while he attempted for a shot. Summoned Monday by the PBA to explain his side, Caguioa said he had no intention of causing any harm. “We cannot overemphasize the danger of fouling an airborne player like that. Fortunately, your act did not result in any dire consequence. Had Mr. Santos taken a bad fall and hurt himself, you could have been assessed a flagrant foul penalty 2," PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios told Caguioa. A flagrant foul 2 metes an automatic one-game suspension. David and Nino Canaleta, who was also slapped with a flagrant foul 1, were likewise summoned by Barrios but were only verbally cautioned. The news of Valenzuela’s availability for the Finals deciders comes as a morale-booster for a Gin Kings squad that has been hit by injuries on key players. Jay-Jay Helterbrand (hamstring) is already out for the series, while Caguioa (tendonitis) isn’t 100 percent. In one of the greatest comebacks in a PBA Finals history, Ginebra won Game Six 80-75 after rallying from a 16-point deficit in the second quarter. Chris Alexander keyed that uprising, scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone and finishing with a conference-high 37. Going into the decider, Air21 appears to be the team with its backs against the wall, blowing away what looked like an already won game that could have given the franchise its first-ever championship.. The Gin Kings will be playing their first Game Seven in 17 years, or since battling back from a 3-1 deficit to beat Shell for the 1991 First Conference crown. – GMANews.TV