CALAMBA, LAGUNA — Already at odds the entire 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 President’s Cup, Nueva Ecija and Uling Roasters-Butuan almost came to blows after their semis encounter in the Grand Finals at the INSPIRE Sports Academy here, Friday.
It started during the heated contest that saw the two sides trash talk each other in the 10-minute encounter.
“Walang sinabi si Gab [Banal] na s*ck my **** after the game. Lahat ‘yun during the game,” said Nueva Ecija’s playing team manager Jai Reyes.
Not taking too kindly to it, members of Butuan — namely Karl Dehesa and Chris De Chavez — waited for them backstage.
“Inabangan nila kami sa may exit ng court. Gusto makipagsuntukan,” Reyes continued.
De Chavez was also overheard saying that Nueva Ecija did not deserve to be in the Million-Peso Game.
A video by Snow Badua showed De Chavez wanting to punch either Banal or Tonino Gonzaga.
Fortunately, players from Family’s Brand Sardines-Zamboanga (Alvin Pasaol and Santi Santillan) and Palayan City were there to restrain both camps. League officials, including commissioner Eric Altamirano’s wife Marissa, were also there to scold the players.
“Kaming dalawa ni Alvin, nakita namin si Karl nakatayo lang. Tapos nagkasagutan sila kaya gumitna kami. Kami ni Alvin, kilala namin si Karl na kapag nainis ‘yan, mawawala sa laro ‘yan. ‘Yun si Chris din sumali,” recalled Santillan.
“Gulo talaga ‘yung sa backstage.”
“Sila Alvin lahat pinipigilan sila. Tumatakbo pa around the people just to get to us,” added Reyes.
For Reyes — who has played all over the region for the last 10 years — he harbors no ill will against Butuan. He just wants the truth to be told.
“Sa’min, all good. We just want the real story out there.”
