Things definitely turned heated during the crunchtime off the Converge versus Magnolia game on Sunday evening at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
Behind import Erik Mccree and main gunner Paul Lee, the Hotshots went on a furious rally, cutting a once-14 point lead down to three, 108-105.
But Jamaal Franklin was able to stop the bleeding, nailing a tough three-pointer in the face of Rome Dela Rosa with 1:05 remaining.
Things got messy afterwards, though.
As Franklin was going down on defense, Magnolia assistant coach Johnny Abarrientos was seen ‘flipping the bird’ on the former CBA reinforcement.
The 52-year-old cage great, who is also the active consultant for Far Eastern University, admitted to his act.
However, he explained that it was just him retaliating in defense of his team. Franklin was taunting their bench, allegedly telling them to ‘sit down.’
“Hindi, nang-aalaska lang siya.
“Feeling niya, winning shot ‘yung tinira niya tapos pinapaupo kami. Yun lang yun,” Abarrientos told Tiebreaker Times.
Abarrientos went on to say that he tried to explain to the game officials that though he was frustrated with the calls, his act was not against them but for Franklin.
“Tapos sinabihan ako ng ref pero sabi ko, ‘Ref, puwede naman umamin pag mali. Lahat naman tayo nagkakamali. ‘Wag mo itama yung mali kasi nakikita ng lahat ng tao.’ Yun lang sinabi ko. Tapos sinasabihan nila ako,” he continued.
“Nakaganun ako sa import, hindi naman sa kanila.”
Magnolia went on to lose the game, 111-109.
According to PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Abarrientos will be fined for his unsportsmanlike act.
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The second game of each PBA gameday is live-streamed on SMART Sports.
