CHICAGO – Many of our readers wailed that the P20,000 fine levied on Pido Jarencio for making a “grave threat” toward former NLEX import Thomas Robinson was not enough.
Others insist that the “stern warning” tacked on top was similarly insufficient.
From a fan base that had long endured several bewildering decisions trickling out of the league office, their sentiments were understandable, if not predictable.
I, however, am satisfied with the decision. A slap on the wrist is better than no disciplinary contact at all.
With Robinson no longer able to tell his side of the story, the PBA’s technical committee was robbed of the opportunity to see the full picture of what really happened.
As such, Kume Willie Marcial could have used the discretion to just quietly let it go and allow the news cycle to move on.
He chose not to. And for that, he deserves some credit.
NO SACRED COWS IN THE PBA.
I don’t believe there are set penal guidelines that mandates a specific amount of fines for threats, direct or implied, hurled by players or officials. Absent that, Marcial came up with an amount he thought was fair to Jarencio
The biggest takeaway here is the PBA’s willingness to punish a team executive who is viewed by many as “protected.” Hopefully this establishes a precedent and serves as a deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, one of Robinson’s reps told me that NLEX was made aware of Robinson’s alleged short fuse but the team “wanted to give it a try” anyway.
It’s unfortunate that it didn’t work out because Robinson is a real talent, a Kansas Jayhawk who was taken as the No.5 overall pick in the 2012 NBA draft.
Robinson played for five years with six teams in the NBA, appearing in 313 games before being waived by the Atlanta Hawks last October 13, 2018.
The 32-year old Robinson played his best game in his abbreviated PBA stint last November 15 when he led the Road Warriors to a 117-113 overtime victory. He tallied 42 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in that encounter.
Per multiple sources, Robinson was on a monthly contract that paid somewhere between $20,000 to $30,0000. NLEX holds his rights until November 28, 2024.
SAY IT ISN’T SO.
After completely recovering from a fractured right tibia he sustained last February 2020, June Mar Fajardo is expected to be out for up to six weeks, this time for a fractured left hand.
This is a gigantic blow to the Commissioner’s Cup hopes of the Beermen, who are currently in third place in the overall standings with a 3-1 record.