Former MVP James Yap Fined P20, 000 by PBA After Involving Himself in the Talk 'N Text-Purefoods Brawl

The video above showed what took place in the game between Talk and Text and Purefoods last July 9. The teams who were able to hurdle the first phase of the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference will get on to play with the wild card series. It was a do-or-die game for both teams by which the winner will have the right to advance to the Quarter Finals to face off with my all time favorite team, Barangay Ginebra.

The game was marred after TNT import, Terrence Leather, lost his cool and composure with still more than 9 minutes left in the ball game. He threw the ball at Jondan Salvador's face. That triggered the commotion that set sparks to the players involved. Terrence Leather was the instigator of the brawl incurring the heaviest fine of P 62, 000. He got lucky he escaped the suspension. James Yap, on the other hand, got the biggest fine among the locals amounting to P 50, 000. When I saw the incident, I call it HIT AND RUN. Yap kicked Leather though he is not the object of the import's ire. Leather came after Yap and the latter run wild in the playing court evading Leather's retaliation. Leather was thrown out of the game. Leather is known for his very hot temperament on court and this is not the only game he got ejected from the court.
The other players who were fined after the ugly incident were the following:

1. Kalani Ferreira & Gilbert Lao (P 20, 000 each for leaving the Tak n Text bench and rushing to the court during the commotion).
   
2. Enrico Villanueva ( P 33, 000)
3. Kerby Raymundo (P 30, 000)
4. Rob Sanz (P 28, 000)
5. Jondan Salvador (P 1, 000)

I commend Ali Peek for keeping his temperament on hold as he tried to restrain his team mates. James Yap acts showed a very unlikely character of a former MVP. Last night, I saw his wife, Kris Aquino's interview, and said things she shouldn't have. Below is James Yap's public apology:

“Pero inaamin kong mali ‘yong ginawa ko at humihingi ako ng patawad sa mga fans ko. ‘Di magandang example ‘yun".

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