Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson has hit out at the NBL Tribunal after they threw out Dexter Kernich-Drew's appeal for a rough play charge.
The melee between the Wildcats and Adelaide 36ers last week resulted in nine players being fined and two suspended.
Kernich-Drew and 36ers skipper Brendan Teys were both initially handed two-game bans for unduly rough play.
But while Teys had his ban reduced to one game on appeal, Kernich-Drew's was dismissed.
The discrepancy has left Gleeson confused.
"There were a couple of people in there who tangoed. Usually you get the same result for both," Gleeson said on Thursday.
"It's disappointing there was a discrepancy in the penalties. We didn't think it was warranted, that's why we fought the charge.
"Just the consistency of what happened earlier in the year - you could throw a punch or an elbow and that seems to be less of a penalty than this weekend.
"I've been confused for a couple of years about (the tribunal).
"There's not much we can do. We appealed it, we fought it and now the decision's made. It's time to move on."
The third-placed 36ers and fourth-placed Wildcats could meet again in the finals in a potentially epic grudge match.
Gleeson was happy with the way Kernich-Drew remonstrated with Teys after the 36ers guard unleashed a dirty foul on Perth development player Lochlan Cummings.
But the veteran coach hopes his players can do so more subtly next time.
"If that happens again, if our development player gets a cheap shot like that, I would be very disappointed if our players didn't come in and remonstrate," Gleeson said.
"But having said that ... you can skin a cat in a lot of different ways. You don't have to do it instantly. It is what it is and we'll move on to Cairns tomorrow night."
The Wildcats' hopes of a top-two finish go on the line over the coming weeks when they finish their season with games against Cairns (home), Melbourne United (away) and Cairns (home).
Perth will be boosted by the return of Greg Hire against Cairns at Perth Arena on Thursday night.
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