TAKING a tough stand against teams walking out of the game, the Philippine Basketball Association decided to raise the penalty from P500,000 to P5 million.

A board member, who requested anonymity told Standard Today that the decision to raise the fine got overwhelming response from the board officials. This is also the first time in 20 years that the league is revising the penalty for teams walking out.

"Hindi na siguro masama na i-raise natin 'yung fine from P500,000 to P5 million dahil nakailang baba and taas na 'yung value ng pera natin and it has been 20 years. The league was still using the old penalty scheme," said the board member.

In the history of the league, only three teams walked out of their games – Ginebra during the 1990 First Conference, Red Bull in the 2006 Fiesta Conference and Talk N Text during the recent Philippine Cup. Of the three, the Tropang Texters received the biggest fine of P1.2 million.

The board also approved the lifting of trade restrictions between Air21 and Talk N Text.

Last season, the Lina Group of Companies decided to carry the name Burger King, a quick-service restaurant company where Talk N Text officials Manny V. Pangilinan and Ricky Vargas also have shares in its ownership.

Because of their investments in one of the companies of the Lina Group, Burger King and Talk N Text were considered as sister teams, but Air21 team manager Lito Alvarez volunteered then that they won't trade directly with the Tropang Texters to avoid any conflict.

But with the Lina franchise reverting to its old Air21 name, Alvarez asked for the consensus of the board members to allow them to trade directly to Talk N Text since the new banner the team is carrying is solely owned by the Lina Group. The board agreed to lift the trade restrictions, but implemented new clauses.

"Air21 cannot go back using Burger King, at least for the next two years," said one board member.

With the trade restrictions now being lifted, Air21 and Talk N Text consummated a trade that has been pending for several days. The Express took back to their fold 6'9" center Yancy de Ocampo and deadshot Ren Ren Ritualo from the Tropang Texters in exchange for Mark Yee, JR Quinahan and Aaron Aban. It will be the third time in eight years De Ocampo will be playing for the Express, while Ritualo will also have a reunion of sorts with the team that made him a first-round pick in 2003. - www.manilastandardtoday.com