Eric Gonzales, coach of the Iloilo United Royals is going to pay dearly for entering the court and making contact with an opposing player last Monday. According to MPBL technical head, George Magsino, he saw no intent to hurt from Gonzales but such actions are still frowned upon and should be dealt with accordingly.
It was during the 6:36 mark of the 3rd quarter of the matchup between the United Royals and the Stars when Gonzales entered the court while the game was ongoing. Gonzales then initiated contact with player Aris Dionisio resulting in an immediate ejection.
Nash Racela, who will be filling in for Gonzales during his suspension, remains adamant that the erring coach was just making a statement over a previous non-call on their own Aaron Jeruta. But upon further review, Magsino and MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes decided to impose a Php 20,000 fine and a 2 game suspension even if there was no intent to harm anyone. According to Commissioner Duremdes, coaches should respect the game, observe the true spirit of sportsmanship, and always lead by example. He also believes that the sanctions handed down were severe enough and should act as a deterrent to avoid any future incident.