Purefoods rep questions suspension, resigns
Purefoods governor Rene Pardo resigned yesterday as chairman of the PBA ethics committee as he still intends to take the “James Yap case” to the league board although it had already decided on the ball club’s earlier appeal.
“It should not end here. I’ll take to the board the procedure done by commissioner Sonny Barrios in handling this controversy,” said Pardo. “This is beyond the series. No matter what the outcome of the series, we want to rectify this problem not only for present application but for the future.”
Pardo called up board chairman Tony Chua to inform him of his resignation yesterday morning.
On Saturday, Chua announced that the board affirmed the commissioner’s decision to suspend Yap in Game Five of the Purefoods-Sta. Lucia title series for his flagrant foul on Joseph Yeo in Game Three.
Up to now, the Purefoods organization is still questioning Barrios’ decision to upgrade from flagrant foul penalty 1 to penalty 2 the infraction assessed by the referees to Yap warranting the suspension of the Purefoods star. A flagrant foul penalty 1 should have meant only a fine.
Pardo also questioned the propriety of an alleged meeting between Barrios and Sta. Lucia top officials hours before the league commissioner made the decision on Yap’s sanction.
“The manner it’s done, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. The timing of the meeting was awful because he had a scheduled meeting with James Yap later in the day,” said Pardo.
“It’s (Pardo) his opinion. But in my opinion, there’s nothing wrong. Kung tingin ko mali, hindi ko gagawin. We met in a public place and there were other people with us,” said Barrios.
“I’m open to talk with team owners or team officials about the game, in particular about the officiating which is always the talk of the day. There are owners who call or text me after the game or even during the game,” Barrios added.
Barrios refused to discuss the sanction anymore, saying Purefoods had elevated it to the board and the board had made its decision.
Pardo thought the commissioner erred in upgrading Yap’s infraction. “He’s just opened the Pandora’s box.
Now, teams can always bring a controversial call to the commissioner. He’ll have his hands full. It’s tough on the part of the commissioner,” said Pardo.
Former PBA commissioner Noli Eala said they made a particular guideline on this in 2003 to avoid this situation. Supposedly, this guideline should have superseded the rules cited by Barrios in upgrading Yap’s sanction.
Source:philstar.com
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