Meralco’s West fined P10k for going after Menor, causing commotion

AKTV file photo/Paolo Papa

The PBA on Friday fined Meralco import Mario West P10,000 for storming the Air 21 locker room after the Bolts’ blowout win over the Express last Wednesday, which the league called “unsportsmanlike conduct”.

West was trying to confront Air 21 enforcer Ogie Menor, who was earlier ejected from the game after a flagrant foul penalty two on the import.

The NBA veteran did not find Menor in the locker room, and instead got into a shoving match with Express point guard Wynne Arboleda.

West claimed he wasn’t trying to pick a fight with Menor, saying that he was trying to patch things up.

But the PBA did not exactly buy his excuse. In a statement, the league said it “saw no valid and acceptable justification for such behavior particularly in light of the appropriate action taken by the game officials.”

Menor was earlier fined P10,000 and suspended for a game because of his foul against West.

The league, meanwhile, sent out a stern warning to players over similar behavior.

“Players are earnestly advised to refrain from taking matters into their own hands in similar situations, whether on or off the basketball court,” it added in its statement.

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