Even two-time Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 semifinalists Valenzuela Classic would agree – their encounter with the Quezon City-Zark’s Jawbreakers got out of hand.
“It was a very aggressive game, we showed a lot of emotions. We were so hyped about it,” recalled Valenzuela gunner Chris De Chavez.
The first five minutes of the group game last Saturday were chippy, to say the least. And it all came to a boiling point with about six minutes left and Valenzuela down 9-15.
As Ronnie Matias drove through the lane, he caught Jan Jamon with an elbow that knocked the Classic player down. All hell broke loose afterwards, as Chris’ brother Carlo went to the court to shove and confront Matias. It resulted in Carlo being suspended for the rest of the day.
Though Matias said that the game itself was physical, the former Ateneo Blue Eagle begged to differ.
“Matias played a little dirty and the refs were letting us play. So, I feel like the refs should have controlled it a little more,” the Filipino-American sniper shared.
“He was not playing physical, he was playing dirty.”
Seeing his brother ejected might have fired up Chris, as he powered Valenzuela’s furious 12-3 run. To cap the rally, Chris knocked down the game-winning deuce with minutes left to seal the win.
“It definitely boosted our confidence. We know that we are a team to beat. We didn’t want Zark’s to beat us.”
It did not end there, though, as a frustrated Matias flipped the bird at them as they were celebrating their triumph.
“That was very unprofessional.
“It’s high emotions but at the end of the day, we still need to show a lot of sportsmanship,” expressed De Chavez.
Though Valenzuela fell short to the Pasay Voyagers in the semis, De Chavez believes that they will only be stronger after this leg.
“We know that we have to come a lot stronger, not physical. But at the end of the day, we need to be sportsmen. It’s just basketball and none of us want to get hurt.”
