MPBL slaps Sorela with lifetime ban following punching incident

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has handed Gensan Warriors player Michole Sorela a lifetime ban and a PHP 200,000 fine for sucker-punching Jonas Tibayan of the Mindoro Tamaraws during a regular-season game on Aug. 11.

While jockeying for position at the top of the key, Sorela unexpectedly struck Tibayan with a full-swing punch that sent him crashing to the floor.

He was assessed a disqualifying foul and ejected with 7:39 remaining in the third quarter.

Tibayan lay on the court for several minutes before MPBL medical staff placed him on a stretcher.

Blood streaming from his mouth prompted MPBL Commissioner Kenneth Duremdes to leave his seat and help clear the court.

Tibayan was taken to a hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a broken jaw, fractured shoulder, concussion, and a busted lip.

“We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won’t tolerate such actions,” Duremdes said. “It compromises the player’s safety and taints the league’s image.”

Aside from the lifetime MPBL ban, Sorela will have his professional athlete license revoked by the Games and Amusements Board, barring him from competing in any professional basketball league in the Philippines, including the Philippine Basketball Association.

“I’ve seen the worst in basketball and this is one of them,” Duremdes said. “The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior.”