Magnolia Pambansang Manok’s Jackson Corpuz was fined P20,000 but will not serve any suspension for his bad foul on TNT’s Troy Rosario in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2.
The PBA’s technical committee made the decision Tuesday, Oct. 26 after reviewing the incident that resulted in Rosario being doubtful for the rest of the championship series with a spinal shock and a dislocated finger.
The committee headed by deputy commissioner Eric Castro also summoned Corpuz to explain his side.
Under PBA rules, a Flagrant 2 automatically corresponds to a P20,000 fine.
Rosario landed awkwardly after being bumped by a sprinting Corpuz while going for a basket with 3:02 left in the third quarter of the Hotshots' 106-98 win at the Don Honorio Ventura State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Referees initially ruled it as a Flagrant 1, which would force Corpuz to sit out for three minutes. But Corpuz was ejected since he was slapped with a technical foul earlier in the contest.
Netizens have been debating if Corpuz did a deliberate act, but Hotshots coach Chito Victolero was quick to say that there was malice on his player's part.
Corpuz even had to disable the comments section of his Instagram account after some of his recent posts were flooded with reaction from irate fans.
No suspension was handed out to Corpuz which has become a norm for the league during the PBA Finals.