The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters and the Globalport Batang Pier figured in a highly-physical contest on Sunday evening. And the emotions reached a fever pitch with 3:20 left to play.
Trying to protect his team’s lead, burly big man Beau Belga dove to the floor to pick up a loose ball. As he sued for a timeout, Sean Anthony tried to force a jumpball.
A huge skirmish happened afterwards.
Maverick Ahanmisi, who was trying to protect his teammate Belga, was shoved to the floor by Kelly Nabong. Ahanmisi and Nabong almost got into it as players from both sides tried to pacify things.
“Part naman ng game yun. This is a basketball game, a physical game, anything can happen,” recalled Belga, as he and Anthony tried to cover themselves from getting hit.
The following penalties were assessed: Ahanmisi and Nabong were ejected from the game for fighting, while Jay Washington and Ryan Araña were slapped with technical fouls for entering the court.
It’s understandable for Washington to be assessed, as he came off the bench and entered the playing court. Arana’s technical, though, was comedic, to say the least.
As the incident was happening, Arana went over to Belga, a former teammate of his from 2007-15, and wiped the sweat off of him with his towel.
“Actually gusto ko lang paghiwalayin si Sean at tsaka si Beau. Kasi magkapulupot silang dalawa eh. So yun lang ginawa ko, tinanggal ko lang siya,” shared Arana, an 11-year league veteran.
“Pero siyempre, yung ginawa ko naman kay Beau is parang ano lang eh, pagmamahal lang ng dating teammate. Yun lang.”
“Ryan is a playful teammate. Sinasabi lang niya sa akin na relax ka lang. Pinupunasan pa niya pawis ko e,” added Belga after Rain or Shine’s 96-90 win.
“Sabi ko lang sa kanya ang galing mong tumulong, nag-technical ka pa. Nagpunas ka lang ng pawis, na-technical ka pa. Ayun, tawa-tawa lang siya.”
Still, Arana will have to face the consequences, as he’ll likely be assessed with a small fine by the league.
“Well, siyempre rules nila yun no? Na bawal pumasok ng court kahit na di mo naman gusto manakit or makasakit dun sa loob?,” he lamented.
“So siguro tanggapin ko na lang, kausapin ko na lang si commissioner [Willie Marcial], hingi na lang ako dispensa, tsaka papaliwanag ko na lang din yung part ko.”
