Salud summons Orton for post-game rant
Purefoods Star Hotshots' import Daniel Orton is in ' hot water' following his post- game rant after absorbing a shocking 11- point loss to Kia Carnival, 94- 85, last Wednesday night.
PBA Commissioner Chito Salud has summoned the 6’9 import for his tirades against the referees and calling Kia playing- coach Manny Pacquiao a 'joke'.
Orton, who was held down to woeful six points and t hree rebounds due to foul trouble, did not hide his frustrations after the forgettable loss.
“Before the game, I was looking forward to it ( matchup with PJ Ramos), because I’m a guy who likes to battle it at the post. They [ referees] really took the game that I know and love and made it into a mockery tonight [ Tuesday],” Orton told sports reporters after emerging from the locker room.
“I’m worried about the loss? Yeah. You hate losing two in a row. I know for Purefoods fans, that’s ( back- to- back losses) not acceptable to them so I’ll come back even harder and stronger on Sunday. I promise you that. But this game seriously has become a joke on the way the game was going, and the refs made it into a mockery," Orton added.
The former NBA first rounder went on to call Pacquiao playing in the PBA as a 'joke'.
“That’s ( Pacquiao playing) a joke, part of the joke I’m talking about. Professional boxer? Yeah. Congressman? Alright. But professional basketball player? Seriously? It’s a joke,” said the NBA veteran, who had stints with the Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma Thunder.
Orton will meet Salud on Friday at 1 pm as the Hotshots import braces for fines and sanctions for his comments detrimental to the league.