Chot Reyes slapped with ₱50K fine, Jojo Lastimosa ₱20K for outburst after TNT vs Magnolia game

The PBA has slapped TNT head coach Chot Reyes with a ₱50,000 fine for his outburst after the Tropang Giga’s game against Magnolia, Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The 59-year year Reyes stormed to the game official’s table after the customary post-game handshake between the two teams to protest the foul called on new recruit Calvin Oftana.

Oftana was whistled for a foul on Paul Lee with 4.3 seconds left on the game clock. The crucial call resulted in two freebies which Lee calmly sank to give Magnolia the victory.

New TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa, who went to complain along with Reyes, was fined ₱20,000.

The duo were restrained by deputy commissioner Eric Castro.

Aside from the on-court incident, league officials also heard Reyes cursing inside the dugout while on his way out of the South Gate of the Big Dome.

The PBA Commissioner’s Office stated that the three new camera angles reviewed by the technical committee showed that the referees indeed made the ‘correct call’ in the contested play.

The video evidence also proved that the referees were in the right position to make the call, stressed Castro.

“Clearly, Oftana hit Paul Lee in the left forearm with a swipe. Kami naman, umaamin if mali ang referees. But in this case, they made the right call,” he said.