Photo credit: PBA

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) has suspended Allein Maliksi for one game and fined him P75,000 for his involvement in an altercation with Converge player Barkley Ebona during the recent Governors Cup game between Meralco and Converge.

The incident occurred in the final seconds of the game, with the Bolts leading by just two points. Ebona tackled Maliksi hard as he attempted to foul, which prompted Maliksi to react aggressively and hold Ebona by the neck. Players and officials intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.

The PBA has also fined Ebona P5,000 for his role in the altercation and warned him that a repeat offense will result in a stiffer penalty.

Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro summoned the two players to the PBA office to hear their sides before imposing the fines and suspension on Maliksi. He will sit out Meralco's upcoming game against Phoenix.

In response to the incident, Meralco Bolts released a statement expressing their disappointment with Maliksi's actions but standing by their teammate. The team emphasized their commitment to playing the game with professionalism and fairness, acknowledging that reacting to provocation is not reflective of their values.