PBA cracks whip on Hodge, Magnolia deputy coach over altercation
At A Glance
- The PBA Office has cracked the whip on Cliff Hodge, slapping the veteran forward with a P100,000 fine and one game suspension following a dangerous take down against Magnolia's Zav Lucero during their game last Wednesday, May, 14.
The PBA Office has cracked the whip on Cliff Hodge, slapping the veteran forward with a P100,000 fine and a one game suspension following a dangerous take down against Magnolia’s Zav Lucero during their game last Wednesday, May, 14.
The fine came after Hodge was summoned before the Commissioner’s Office on Friday, May 16, to explain his side of the incident that saw him hold Lucero on his head and pull him down in an effort to stop a fastbreak.
His action, of course, did not sit well for the Magnolia big man, who confronted Hodge before their teammates got in the middle of the two.
The commotion did not end there though, as a separate altercation also happened in front of the table officials after Magnolia assistant Mon Jose headbutted Hodge. That only further fueled the heated exchange as Meralco consultant Nenad Vucinic had some choice words to the Magnolia deputy before cooler heads finally prevailed.
Jose, likewise, did not get away unscathed as the PBA office also slapped him with a game suspension and P20,000 fine.
While Hodge maintained that his actions were unintentional, commissioner Willie Marcial warned him, as well as Jose, to watch over their emotions and similar offenses could lead to an even heavier consequences.