By Joel Orellana
TALK ‘N TEXT’S title-retention bid in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup will start on a wrong foot after its import, Ivan Johnson, was suspended for one game by the league for figuring in a fight in their tune-up game with Blackwater.
The former National Basketball Association (NBA) forward was also fined P50,000 and was refrained from suiting up for Tropang Texters in other tune-up games until he serves his punishment.
Johnson, who led the Manuel V. Pangilinan franchise to a crown last season against Rain or Shine, punched Elite center JP Erram after they got entangled in one play during tune-up match last Saturday at the Moro Lorenzo Gymnasium.
According to witnesses, both players fell hard and when Erram was about to stand up, Johnson swing a punch at the Blackwater player’s chin but did not land solidly.
Erram’s teammate, Frank Golla, went to the scene and was also punched on the chest by Johnson. The match was halted with seven minutes remaining.
The volatile Johnson is considered a recidivist. He was fined P150,000 by former PBA Commissioner Chito Salud after bumping Elasto Painters Head Coach Yeng Guiao during their championship game.
With the suspension, Johnson will miss Talk ‘N Text’s first game, interestingly, against Blackwater, at the start of the midseason tournament on February 10 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coach Leo Isaac’s team will be bannered by the young MJ Rhett, a 23-year-old product of Mississippi.
Head Coach Jong Uichico’s squad also have to double their effort. Ranidel de Ocampo has yet to fully recover from a back injury and is still feeling his way around.
The Tropang Texters-Elite match will usher the Commissioner’s Cup at 4:15 p.m., to be followed by the game featuring Star and Meralco at 7 p.m.
The Hotshots brought back Denzel Bowles, while the Bolts tapped former NBA forward Malcolm Thomas, who last played for the Los Angeles Defenders in the D-League.
GlobalPort, fresh from its first semifinals stint in the Philippine Cup, will face Mahindra in the next play date at 4:15 p.m., to be followed by the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel-NLEX match at 7 p.m.
Batang Pier have yet to acquire an import. The Enforcers, on the other hand, are parading Augustus Gilchrist of South Florida. The Road Warriors are also bringing back Al Thornton, while the Kings signed up former Talk ‘N Text import Othyus Jeffers.
Johnson will play his first game on February 13 against Meralco at 3 p.m. at the Philsports Arena to be followed by the encounter between Rain or Shine and Star at 5 p.m. The Elasto Painters also have a balik-import in Waynce Chism, who beat Johnson for last season’s Best Import plum in the Commissioner’s Cup
Capping the first-week Commissioner’s Cup schedule is the double-header at the Big Dome on Valentine’s Day with Global and Ginbera clashing in the main game at 5:15 p.m. Blackwater and Mahindra meet in the opener at 3 p.m.