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| Jonas Tibayan was immediately taken to the nearest hospital after Michole Sorela's apparent punch on him. MPBL |
MANILA--The MPBL delivered the heaviest punishment on Michole Sorela for his punch on Jonas Tibayan during their Monday night game.
The league announced on Tuesday that the GenSan forward has been meted with a lifetime ban for the said uncharacteristic gesture.
"We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won't tolerate such actions. It compromises the player's safety and taints the league's image. I've seen the worst and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior," said MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, who immediately handed the penalty after the review of the hit.
Sorela, seemingly pissed off, suddenly hit Tibayan with an apparent right hand punch at the 7:33 mark of the third quarter of the game between the Warriors and Mindoro Tamaraws at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.
Tibayan, who was first rushed to the nearby St. Patrick Hospital Medical Center before eventually brought to the New Era Hospital in Quezon City, suffered a concussion, bloody jaw, chipped tooth, broken left lip, and a shoulder fracture.
The league also slapped Sorela with a PHP200,000 fine for the intentional foul, and the former San Beda player, a third round pick in the 2015 PBA Draft, could also see his pro athlete license revoked by the Games and Amusements Board, which means he is also permanently banned from playing in any pro league.
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