Another PBA import found himself in hot water on Wednesday for allegedly making a scene at a hotel in Quezon City, and assaulting at least one policeman who tried to pacify him.
Former Rain or Shine Elasto Painters import Jamelle Cornley was detained at the Quezon City Police District Station 10 after refusing to cooperate with police investigators and running amok, station commander Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo Jr. said.
"Yung pulis ko sinapak niya... Napakalaking tao nito. Ifa-file natin ng direct assault (He assaulted one of my men. He's a big guy. We'll file direct assault charges against him)," Pedrozo said in an interview on dzBB radio.
Police are also eyeing charges of alarm and scandal and for damage to property against Cornley for making a scene and breaking items at Sir Williams Hotel along Timog Avenue.
A separate report by dzBB's Manny Vargas said the charges of direct assault on a person in authority referred to Cornley's hitting PO2 Anselmo Lazatin, who was one of those who had gone to where Conrley had been making a scene.
Lazatin was rushed to the emergency unit of the East Avenue Medical Center after being on the wrong end of a punch by the import, who stands 6'5" tall.
At the station, Cornley was heard saying, "they can file whatever they want" when told by reporters that police may file charges against him.
Rain or Shine player Gabe Norwood went to the police station supposedly to talk to Cornley, who had calmed down after being locked up.
But before he calmed down, the report said Cornley even removed his clothes and sat on the police officer-on-duty's desk.
Reports had Cornley causing a scene at the hotel, where he had brought three women back with him after coming from a KTV bar. But after the women had left, Cornley realized that his wallet with documents, IDs, and about $1400 was missing, and demanded that hotel management find the three women.
At the station, Cornley wanted to talk to Pedrozo but Pedrozo refused to talk to him. When he got mad and ran amok, it took several policemen to subdue him and take him to the detention cell.
Cornley helped the Rain or Shine franchise to its first PBA title last year, during the Governors' Cup, which has a height limit on imports. He normed 22.62 points, 11.62 rebounds and 3.05 assists, earning him Best Import of the Conference honors.
He remained in the Philippines following that tourney, undergoing treatment for a knee injury, and was actually slated to leave the country on Sunday.
With Wednesday's incident, he is the third PBA import in recent weeks to give the league's image a black eye.
Earlier this year, Petron Blaze Booster import Renaldo Balkman was banned for life from the league for a meltdown during a game where he pushed aside even his own teammates and coaches, before strangling team captain Arwind Santos.
Another PBA import, GlobalPort Batang Pier Walter Sharpe, was sent home after photos showing him allegedly sleeping on the sidewalk went viral on social media sites. - AMD, GMA News
