Allado fined P500,000, suspended one conference for game-fixing accusations against the PBA
League commissioner Chito Salud came down hard on Barako Bull forward Don Allado, who was fined P500,000 and was suspended for one conference for accusing the league of game-fixing.
The penalty came after Allado met with Salud yesterday. Allado was summoned to the commissioner’s office to explain his messages on Twitter, where he alleged that the games in the league are fixed and rigged.
Following their season-ending loss to the Powerade Tigers last Tuesday, Allado posted on his Twitter account the following messages. “#PBA games are fixed. They control who is in & who is out. It’s a disgrace to be in this league. I am bitter about losing. Not to Powerade, but to #PBA. In my opinion, this league has little credibility left.”
The messages were later deleted. Allado then apologized for his messages.
“Inulit [niya] sa akin ang paghingi ng paumanhin sa buong PBA, sa players, governors. Yun daw ay resulta lang ng pagkatalo ng team niya. Burst of emotion sa Powerade,” said Salud told dzBB radio in a report posted at pba-online.net.
The report added that Salud reminded Allado of the power of Twitter and Facebook.
“Ang tweet, Facebook, maraming sumusunod diyan, delikado kung magsasalita ka ng kung anu-anong bagay,” said Salud. “I took the occasion na ipaalala sa kanya ang responsibilidad ng PBA player sa fans. Ang maturity, sportsmanship, kailangan at all times they observe that on and off the court.”
ROOT OF TWEETS
The sanction imposed on Allado came after referee Tito Balao was suspended for the rest of the season after he failed to call an obvious three-second violation in the crucial stretches of the Powerade-Barako Bull game.
In that play, Powerade import Omar Sneed fell to the floor and laid on the shaded lane for more than three seconds but no violation was called. While Sneed was on the floor, Jvee Casio converted a layup that gave the Tigers a 97-89 lead. Powerade would eventually win the game, 99-95.
“I laud his apology, it takes a man to admit his fault. I laud his passion for the game but I cannot condone this kind of behavior. There will be punishment,” Salud said.
Meanwhile, the semifinal games begin today with Meralco facing Ginebra in the first game and Petron taking on the red-hot Rain or Shine in the main game.
