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    Basketball - Ex-NBA player banned in Philippines for "choking" team mate

    Former NBA player Renaldo Balkman has been banned from the professional basketball league in the Philippines for grabbing a team mate around the neck during a game.

    The former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets player has also been slapped with a fine of 250,000 Philippine pesos (£4,125) over the incident, Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement on Monday.

    Balkman, who was playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters against the Philippines-based Alaska Aces, assaulted Arwind Santos while his team mate tried to stop him from venting his frustration at a referee's decision.

    Salud said he took into consideration Balkman's past record as a player, which included a head-butting incident during a FIBA-Americas game between his Puerto Rico side and Venezuela.

    "I also took into consideration Balkman's evident disregard for local and the host country's sensibilities highlighted by his choking act on-court in full public view of his own team mate who was trying to pacify him," Salud said.

    "I do encourage passion for the game but I also want to firmly instil a culture of accountability among our players. If one does something that violates the rules and the norms of sportsmanship and decent behaviour, he will be made accountable."

    The 28-year-old also pushed away his other team mates and one of his coaches during the match, which the Boosters went on to lose 73-83

    It was not clear from the statement if the ban was for good.

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