The ball game was already over with Talk ‘N Text prevailing over Alaska, 101-93 before tempers flared inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum, as Tropang Texters import Ivan Johnson got into a verbal tussle with Aces head coach Alex Compton.
Bouncers and the rest of both squads had to restrain the two to prevent further havoc after the match.
“He cursed me and accused me of putting players on the floor to hurt him and I was like, what?” Compton told reporters after the match. “It doesn’t matter what he did. I want to apologize to Talk ‘N Text and the PBA fans. I raised my voice, got upset, and it was the exact opposite of what I wanted to emphasize since I took over.”
“I did not honor somebody today, and that is our building block as a team — honor the referee, honor your opponent, honor the fans. It doesn’t matter who. It’s still honor, and today I learned a lesson.”
Compton added he wouldn’t be a provoker in such instances.
“I have a lot of friends from Talk ‘N Text. I am not a fighter, I don’t curse, and if I did, he would squash me in 10 seconds,” he said. “When I pointed to myself I was just telling him to ask his teammates about me.”
“It was poor and I am sorry to the PBA fans.”
Media did not get any word from Johnson, and Calvin Abueva, who took part in the trashtalking with Johnson all game long. Johnson was also slapped with a technical foul for second motion after Abueva held the TNT import’s uniform.
Chaos almost broke out just outside the respective teams’ dugouts as reports had it that Abueva taunted Johnson, almost triggering a worse scene.
Johnson already apologized to Compton while Compton was answering questions from reporters.
