MANILA – The Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) has handed down its harshest penalty yet, issuing a lifetime ban to GenSan Warriors forward Michole Sorela for punching Mindoro Tamaraws player Jonas Tibayan during their Monday night game.
The league announced the decision on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, condemning the act as a serious breach of sportsmanship and player safety.
“We condemn the incident, and the MPBL won’t tolerate such actions. It compromises the player’s safety and taints the league’s image,” said MPBL commissioner Kenneth Duremdes, who immediately imposed the penalty after reviewing footage of the incident.
“I’ve seen the worst, and this is one of them. The league has the full authority to impose sanctions on this deplorable behavior,” he added.
Sorela, visibly pissed off, threw a right-hand punch at Tibayan with still 7:33 left in the third quarter of the game at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.
Tibayan, who was first rushed to the nearby St. Patrick Hospital Medical Center before eventually being brought to the New Era Hospital in Quezon City, suffered a concussion, bloody jaw, chipped tooth, broken left lip, and a shoulder fracture.
The league also slapped Sorela with a P200,000 fine for the intentional foul.
The former San Beda player, a third-round pick in the 2015 PBA Draft, may also see his pro athlete license revoked by the Games and Amusements Board, which means he could be permanently banned from playing in any pro league. / PNA