Lifts ban on Balkman Commish Marcial gets green light from Salud, Santos
The PBA is lifting the lifetime ban on former import Renaldo Balkman stemming from an incident where he choked then Petron teammate Arwind Santos during an emotional moment in the 2013 Commissioner’s Cup.
PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed the decision after weeks of discussions with parties involved, paving the way for Balkman to suit up in future import-laden conferences.
“Ike-clear na namin siya,” Marcial told the Bulletin, adding the decision was arrived at after holding talks with former PBA commissioner Chito Salud and Santos who both gave their gosignal to letting Balkman get a second chance.
“He wrote a letter of appeal then personally appeared in my office. But I didn’t decide just based on that. I soThe
With less than five months before the 2018 JakartaPalembang Asian Games, National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) president Caloy Coscolluela said they are looking to finalize the lineup of the men’s and women’s teams in time for the continental meet.
So far, only top amateur LJ Go is assured of a slot in the four-men squad while full slots to the women’s side remain up for grabs.
“Go is definitely in, but for the remaining slots, including the women’s, we still have to decide,” said Coscolluela yesterday. “It will depend on how they’ll perform in training and competitions before the Asian Games.”
In the recent 100th Philippine Open, licited the thoughts of Commissioner Salud and Arwind.”
Marcial added that Balkman has vowed to show good conduct, something he has done in his current stint with San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Balkman was banned by Salud and also fined 1250,000 for the choking incident which came late in a game against the Alaska Aces.
Meanwhile, the Magnolia Hotshots Pambansang Manok will use the Lenten break not only to recharge their batteries but also to find ways to set the tempo after having to play catch-up in the first the first two games of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals duel with the four-peat seeking San Miguel Beermen.
Magnolia erased a 20-point third quarter deficit to steal the series opener, 105-103, Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and nearly completing another huge rally two nights at the Mall of Asia Arena two nights later before falling, 92-77, that tied the series at 1-1.
Game 3 of the best-of-seven affair is set Easter Sunday at the Big Dome.
“Dapat next game hindi ganito,” Hotshots point guard Mark Barroca said after Sunday’s Game 2. “Kasi pag ganito lagi, ang hirap, lagi kaming naghahabol sa huli. Meron pa kaming ilang days para mag-prepare ng maayos. Makapag-rest muna.”
Rest is something the Hotshots have been direly needing since the semifinals, having to beat the NLEX Road Warriors in six games in almost two weeks before being given only three days to prepare for the finals matchup with the Beermen.
San Miguel underwent almost a week-long respite after defeating crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in five games. the 23-year-old Go was named best amateur player in the tournament after finishing tied for 32nd to 34th places with former PH Open champions Marcus Both of Australia (2014) and Mardan Mamar of Singapore (2012).
Go and PH team candidates Luis Miguel Castro, Carl Jano Corpus and Luigi Paolo Wong will undergo training with Canadian pro Rick Gibson, the 2002 Philippine Open champion.