Manila: The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has taken decisive action against Arwind Santos, suspending him indefinitely following an on-court altercation. The incident occurred during a playoff game between the Basilan and GenSan teams in the South Division quarterfinals.

According to Philippines News Agency, the league imposed a PHP100,000 fine on the Portmasters’ star forward after he struck Tonton Bringas in the face during the game. The altercation happened at the Malolos Convention Center during the fourth quarter. Both players were vying for position when Santos, displeased with Bringas’ nudge, retaliated with a hit that resulted in his immediate ejection from the game. Bringas sustained a cut near his left eye, prompting MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes to escalate the penalty beyond the automatic suspension for an ejected player.

Duremdes emphasized that the league does not condone such behavior, especially during crucial playoff matches. He warned that this incident should serve as a caution for other players prone to emotional outbursts. The league maintains the authority to enforce penalties for such acts and hopes their measures will deter future incidents.

In the meantime, the playoff series between Basilan and GenSan continues, with the next game set to determine who will advance to face Quezon in the South semifinals. Due to venue availability issues, the game locations have been adjusted, with the next match set to take place at the Olivarez College Coliseum, home of the Para±aque Patriots.

In other MPBL news, San Juan has secured a spot in the North semifinals after a victory over Pasay. The Knights, despite losing their home advantage, managed a 77-66 win at the Ynares Sports Arena. Raul Soyud led the charge for San Juan with an impressive performance, while Dexter Maiquez contributed significantly off the bench. Pasay, now eliminated from the playoffs, remains winless in the MPBL postseason.

The Knights await the outcome of the Nueva Ecija versus Pangasinan series to determine their semifinal opponent. Nueva Ecija forced a deciding Game 3 with a win over Pangasinan, led by standout performances from Will McAloney and Billy Robles. The final match of the series is scheduled to take place at the Nueva Ecija Coliseum, where the Rice Vanguards will look to capitalize on their home-court advantage.