Baguio shouldn’t be suspended for hard foul on Castro, says Alaska coach Luigi Trillo

Rey Joble, InterAKTV · Wednesday, December 26, 2012 · 9:55 pm

AKTV file/Paul Ryan Tan

Alaska guard Cyrus Baguio’s hard foul on Talk ‘N Text’s Jayson Castro late in the Tropang Texters’ Game Three victory over the Aces Wednesday does not merit suspension, according to Luigi Trillo.
“Cyrus has never had a background at that,” said the Alaska coach. “It was a duty foul. I would be shocked if the Commissioner took out Cyrus.”
Baguio was called for a flagrant foul penalty two on the play, leading to an automatic ejection. The infraction is subject to review by PBA commissiner Chito Salud, who has power to decide whether a player should be suspended.
Trillo cited previous instances where players involved in similar incidents escaped suspension.
“James Yap hammered Ibañes with an open palm,” said Trillo, who added that Baguio had no intention to hurt Castro, who was taken out of the game after hitting his free throws after the foul. He was later taken to the hospital for a checkup.
“It was a duty foul, it wasn’t a closed fist.”
Trillo challenged the league to apply the same rules to Baguio as it has to other players.
“The officials of the league said to put premium on protecting the players. Calvin [Abueva] has been hit left and right and no one was suspended,” said Trillo.