Hontiveros says he understands commissioner’s actions; fines slapped on players

CEBUANO veteran guard Dondon Hontiveros remained unsure on whether PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa erred in singling him out at the height of the fracas between Alaska and Global Port in Game 2 of their semifinals match-up last Wednesday but said he knows the commissioner was merely making a stand to keep the shenanigans from getting out of hand.

In an exclusive talk with Cebu Daily News the morning after the heated encounter, Hontiveros said he initially got confused as to why Narvasa spoke to him in a hostile manner. But he later got the point behind the latter’s actions.

“Wala ko kabalo if tama ba or mali tong pag-approach sa commissioner sa akoa but na-gets nako na he was just making a stand against the incident and that was his way of showing it,” shared the veteran gunner and proud product of the University of Cebu. (I don’t know if it was right or wrong that the commissioner approached me but I understood that he was just making a stand against the incident and that was his way of showing it.)

In the first quarter of Game 2 that was won by Alaska, Hontiveros and Global Port’s David Semerad got entangled but things got more heated when Alaska’s Calvin Abueva and Batang Pier forward Jay Washington got involved.

Hontiveros said that he just wanted to go to Washington, a former teammate, to apologize seeing as he knew the latter had no malicious intentions. But Narvasa ordered him instead to turn back and return to Alaska’s bench.

“I know J-Wash (Washington) and he was just protecting his teammate, that’s why he shoved me. I just wanted to approach him and smooth things over. Pero gipabalik na man nuon ko sa commissioner. Naglibog ko ngano ako iya gitudlo-tudlo pero okay ra, human na man,” (the commissioner told me to go back. I got confused why he was pointing at me but it’s okay. It’s over now.) added Hontiveros, who is known around the league for his perimeter sniping and his peaceful and affable attitude.

PLAYERS FINED

Meanwhile, a whopping P91,200 worth of fines spread among 13 different players and officials of both Alaska and Global Port was handed down by the PBA in the aftermath of the near-brawl in Game 2.

Alaska forward Calvin Abueva bore the brunt of the penalties as he was decked a total of P41,600 in fines for four violations. The 6-foot lightning rod was fined P20,000 for instigating a commotion and another P10,000 for confronting Globalport alternate governor and league vice chairman Erick Arejola. He was also slapped with a P10,000 fine for confronting Batang Pier players Anthony Semerad and Jay Washington and another P1,600 for a second motion.

Another Alaska forward, Vic Manuel, also got an P11,600 fine for shoving Washington twice and for second motion. Hontiveros got slapped with a P1,000 fine for incurring a technical foul.

The rest of the erring parties got off with fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 for their technical fouls and for leaving the bench during the incident.