Narvasa reduces Ivan ban to just one season
PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa was apparently swayed by the appeal of banned import Ivan Johnson of Tropang TNT during their meeting the other day after Narvasa yesterday reduced the import’s lifetime suspension to just a ban from the current PBA season.
Narvasa also reduced the fine imposed on Johnson from R250,000 to R150,000. The twin punishments were handed down Saturday evening minutes when Johnson rained expletives on the commissioner after he was ejected from his team’s game against Meralco when he was meted a second technical foul.
This was the first time a lifetime ban in the PBA, which had already been done seven times in the past, was reduced on appeal.
Johnson had sought a meeting with Narvasa and the two met last Tuesday at the commissioner’s office where the import also brought along his wife and two young children, aged three and two, to appeal his case.
Narvasa apparently was touched by the gesture. With the decision, Johnson can come back next year and be able to play in the PBA assuming he is hired by TNT or some other teams.
Johnson was grateful and said he tried to convince Narvasa that he is not a bad person.
“I just want to come in and show him that we met on bad terms,” said Johnson, a former Atlanta Hawk. “We needed to learn about each other first. It only took a minute to learn about each other. He’s a good person.”
“Personally, I figured, I need to come here to show him what type of p person I am. If y you j just look at me from the bas- ketball side you’ll never know who I am because it’s two different people.
“There’s so much emotion (in the basketball game) you’ll never know who I am. I can say that myself. I’m a totally different person on the court and my passion for the game is way, way up here,” added Johnson.
Meanwhile, the Tropa now is trying to find a replacement for Johnson who is leaving for the US on Saturday. TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio said they are hoping to have one before the team plays Globalport tomorrow. “We’re still looking,g, no importp y yet,”, said Villavicencio.