it's not just SMC but more like the rich teams.. the commissioner's discretion applies favorably to rich teams..
similar to LD Williams' case was the De Ocampo elbow to Sean Anthony in last season's All-Filipino Cup finals.. it even caused a cut over Anthony's eyebrow that needed to be stitched.. Anthony didn't even get to come back in the game but it was just a Flagrant 1.. it was upgraded to Flagrant 2 by Salud with 20K fine but no suspension..
http://www.pba.ph/news/entry/1371
I agree with this ..... that same series, wherein PETRON's Cabagnot, Santos gave hard head-hits, also saw similar hits from TnT players.
Though, I wont be surprised if the leeway given to offenders, was a result of precedence given to "favored" players.
When PETRON's McDonald didn't get suspended for throwing the ball at Pennisi's face (first time the infraction didn't result in suspension), many players and media people half-jokingly tweeted that it's open season on ball-throwing, since future offenders wont get suspended.
Sure enough, a month later SMC's Joe Devance thew the ball to TnT's Raymundo face, in retaliation for a hard foul ..... no suspension.
One thing that Comm. Cheato Salud seems to hate is hot media scrutiny ......
"Hindi ako tanga" said Salud, when it was revealed that POWERADE's initial proposal to trade Marcio Lassiter was an offshoot of the impending sale of the franchise to San Miguel Corp.
Everyone & his mother knew that the only reason Salud vetoed the trade, was due to the media expose ...... like a shrewd Noli Eala, Salud waited a conference for the scrutiny to die down - then approved the deal anyway.
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Comm. Cheato Salud still hasn't explained why no travelling violation was called on Rafi Reavis during the closing seconds off that controversial game.
Rafi Reavis clearly RAN AWAY (travelled) with the ball with time left on the game clock ...... why the no-call, which would have given BARAKO BULL one more chance to win the game ?