Converges Fiberxers’ Alec Stockton during the PBA Philippine Cup match against North Port Batampia. –PBA Image
Northport’s 111-92 manhandling on Friday at PBA Philippine Cup Elimination had no fireworks or rough plays at Converge’s 111-92 Manhandling.
Alec Stockton dropped a season-high 33 points, equaling three careers. It dropped 33 points as it improved to 5-3 after a four-game winning streak was snapped by Barangay Ginebra in San Fernando, Pampanga last week.
“After a bad defeat to Ginebra, it’s a good bounceback victory for us,” said coach Franco Atienza of the Fiberxers.
The Press Room story
Many of the speeches in the press room were the aftermath of Meralco Bruiser Cliff Hodge’s hit with Xavier Lucero, which had many meanings other than the Bolt veteran’s one-game ban, and the promise of a P100,000, as well as a more rigid penalty should come again.
“He said the penalty would be even more severe as he had already been summoned twice.
Hodge grabbed Lucero’s head as a scripted pro wrestling operation, and ultimately caused the liquidation of both benches, with coaches, team managers and other players taking part.
Lucero was at least not fined, but Magnolia’s assistant coach Mon Jose was also handed a one-game ban, but was also fined P20,000 after the technical committee determined in review that he had given him a headbutt at the scorer’s table.
Apologising, Hodge said that a member of Magnolia’s coaching staff gave him a headbutt, but he did not identify Jose as the culprit.
Two top officials other than Marcial were also punished. The commissioner canned aide Eric Castro and technical head Bon Pascual.
Hodge was given a terrible foul 1 instead of F2, leading to an automatic ejection.
“Our technical procedures had expired and Hodge should have been given an F2 on the spot,” Marcial said.
Castro was not present on Friday due to the ban, but Pascal will serve him the following Friday.
Marcial spoke to both Hodge and Lucero. Hodge and Lucero previously called fouls “dirty play.” Hodge is subject to social media scrutiny, with some explaining it as something like Steve Austin’s “Stone Cold Stunner,” Randy Orton’s “RKO,” or LA Knight’s “BFT.”
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Ginebra was playing Phoenix at Nightcap’s press conference.
