Trouble broke out in the San Mig Coffee Mixers’ 102-88 win over Globalport Batang Pier last night in the 38th PBA Governors’ Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Coffee Mixers were ahead, 58-39, when several players from the two teams came to blows at the 8:11 mark of the third period.
The fight started when San Mig import Marqus Blakely and Marvin Hayes got entangled and fell on the hardcourt. As they struggled to right themselves, Hayes appeared to have kicked Blakely in the head. Blakely’s teammate Joe De Vance ran toward Hayes and shoved him hard.
Hayes’ teammate Kelly Nabong joined the fray and shoved Blakely. That led to Marc Pingris getting into the picture as he stepped in and threw a punch at Nabong. Nabong charged back by collaring Pingris and kneeing his head.
Cooler heads stopped the fracas, including San Mig head coach Tim Cone, who was seen holding on to Nabong’s legs while he was on the floor.
Nabong and Pingris were later ejected while Hayes and De Vance were slapped with technical penalties.
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud said the incident will be reviewed before penalties are meted out against the players involved.
The two teams now tote similar 2-3 (win-loss) records. Meanwhile, Ginebra’s Mark Caguioa was slapped with a P20,000 fine for criticizing the referees through his Twitter account after the Kings’ 99-102 loss to the Alaska Aces last Sunday. /Editorial assistant Calvin D. Cordova