PBA: Renaldo Balkman gets banned for life

Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) issued an official statement banning Petron Blaze Boosters import Renaldo Balkman from the league and fining him 250,000 pesos in relation to the incident in last Friday’s game between the Blaze Bossters and the Alaska Aces.  Commissioner Salud considered Balkman’s history in handing down the stiff decision.  Some quarters believed that the penalties imposed by the Commissioner was too harsh.  Petron was even willing to give the temperamental yet effective import another chance.

With Balkman, Petron sits with 5-2 record which is good for 3rd place over-all.  The Blaze Boosters are just a game behind the Aces and 1/2 game behind the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.  Balkman, a former NBA first round pick, is currently averaging 25 ppg, 13.4 rpg, 2.43 apg, 2 spg, and 2.71 bpg.  The ban on him will leave a big void to fill as the Blaze Boosters will play the streaking Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in their next game.

Commissioner Salud’s statement (via interaktv)

A video of the incident that triggered the ban has reached over 1,000,000 views in Youtube.  The news was also picked up by the international media.  Balkman’s agent Sheryl Reyes is worried that the ban will have negative implications on employment opportunities for her client in other parts of the world. In the video, Balkman is seen arguing the referees.  He pushed assistant coach Biboy Ravanes, teammates Ronald Tubid, and Arwind Santos.  In one of the most unusual scenes in the PBA, the import choked Santos before cooler heads were able to restrain him.

caloycomment: Carry on, Petron! Farewell, Renaldo Balkman!

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