PBA Finals update: Rain or Shine to pay P2 million after staging a partial walkout

Photo: Facebook Page of Yeng Guiao

It was a double whammy for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

After failing to extend the PBA Philippine Cup championship series Wednesday night, the Guiao-mentored ballclub is facing a P2-million fine for the partial walkout of the whole team.

This was announced by PBA Commissioner Chito Salud on Thursday, as he issued a statement through the league’s official Twitter account.

He said, “The rules on walkouts, partial or otherwise, are clear and we will enforce them accordingly. Still, I don’t want one thing to be lost in all these – my respect and admiration for the players of both teams who gave it all for the game and the fans. I commend them. They are a credit to the sport and they did the PBA proud.”

The PBA rule book states that any team who stages a partial walkout will be slapped with a P2-million fine.

The play

The Mixers was leading 30-17 at the 11:39 mark of the second quarter when Elasto Painters’ JR Quinahan was called for a foul, after slightly nudging Mixers’ Marc Pingris.

Annoyed with the call, Elasto Painters’ head coach Yeng Guiao instructed the whole team to go straight to their dugout, as Pingris was about to take free throws.

Quick to follow was PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud who had a short talk with Rain or Shine owner Raymond Yu. When Salud went back to the court, he signaled to the game officials that they would give Elasto Painters,  a 15-minute grace period.

Rain or Shine didn’t consume the allotted time as they came back  to the playing court after five minutes. They were then warned for a delay of game.

The partial walkout didn’t stop the momentum of the Mixers who walked away with a 93-87 victory, bagging the Philippine Cup title.

PBA walkouts

Walkouts are not new anymore to the PBA.

Aside from the Elasto Painters, three other teams had also staged walkouts. In 1990, it was Anejo Rhum who took the brave act, and was fined P500,000. Talk ‘N Text also staged a walkout in a playoff game in 2010, and  was fined P1 million.

Red Bull, who was also mentored by Guiao then,  tried to walk out in 2006 but returned to the playing court.

According to the new rule of the PBA, a whopping P10 million will be charged to any team who stages a total walkout.

In his entire PBA career, Guiao has already accumulated 61 technical fouls, 11 ejections, 4 suspensions and fines amounting to  P824,700.