It all started with one tweet by San-En’s Thirdy Ravena on Thursday evening.
For context, B.League teams Utsunomiya — defending champion but ranked 11th this season — and Ryukyu — last season’s runner-up and current fourth-ranked team — routed PBA teams TNT and San Miguel, respectively, in the ongoing 2023 East Asia Super League Champions Week via an average margin of 30.5 points.
Meanwhile, KBL teams Seoul SK and Anyang KGC, the next opponents of the Philippine clubs in the tournament, impressed to open their respective campaigns.
And Thirdy went on social media to post this.
Strong Group and Mighty Sports head coach Charles Tiu, a veteran internationalist head coach in his own right, would then reply.
. Ain’t as easy to win international games https://t.co/pPOQF9XUXP
— Charles Tiu (@charlestiu) March 2, 2023
After the game, San Miguel captain Chris Ross would see the tweets and respond to them one by one.
No need to bring anyone down. You have no clue what’s goin on over here bro chill
— Chris Ross (@cmross6) March 2, 2023
He went on to explain his tweet to Ravena in a response to Tiu.
It’s not but health and the right imports help as well. We finished top 4 in the last EASL and we didn’t hear anything about winning and stuff then. These teams have their imports all season. We’ve played with Cam for a month and Jessie for 5 days. Come on now!
— Chris Ross (@cmross6) March 2, 2023
Ravena though clarified that his tweet was not a dig at the Tropang Giga or the Beermen but to the naysayers calling the B.League a “papawis” league for Filipino players while earning more.
big bro aint talking down on nobody. my dads in one of those teams why would i? im not even throwing shade at the pba. that tweet is for all the filipino basketball fans who discredit and hate on some of us for being out here, esp me and my bro
— Thirdy (@ThirdyRavenaaa) March 2, 2023
B.League players like Shinshu’s Matt Aquino and Fukuoka’s Greg Slaughter would also chime in.
— Matthew Aquino マシューアキノ (@SuperMatt_13) March 2, 2023
Reality check
— Greg Slaughter (@GWillSlaughter) March 2, 2023
Tiu though would wonder out loud, asking if the B.League has already caught up with the PBA.
After all, it was just four years ago when San Miguel defeated Ryukyu, 101-92, to move to the semis of the EASL Terrific 12.
I feel you bro. you played without Junmar too. But during the last EASL you guys were the best team in the PH by far, and we fell short, but it’s still a good achievement while now all our PBA teams got destroyed which is worrisome.. are other leagues getting better than ours?
— Charles Tiu (@charlestiu) March 2, 2023
The Beermen did not have both Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter during their first-ever encounter with the Golden Kings.
Bacon Austria, son of former San Miguel head coach Leo, also gave his thoughts on the matter.
PBA teams doesn’t take EASL seriously we all know that…
— Bacon Austria (@baconaustria) March 2, 2023
But with P13,716,251.25 going to the champion, P5,502,400 going to the runner up, and P2,751,200 going to third place for a one week gig, who would not take that seriously?
