Barangay Ginebra rookie and coach Nash Racela’s “player of the game” Kevin Ferrer insisted that he did not do anything that led to TNT Katropa import Glen Rice Jr.’s ejection in the first quarter of their Game Four semifinal clash, Sunday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The 26-year-old American was disqualified with just 1:41 left in the opening frame after being slapped with a flagrant foul and a technical foul for shoving and throwing the ball directly to the University of Santo Tomas product.
“Wala naman akong ginagawa,” said Ferrer. “Siyempre deny lang, bigla akong chinoke. Nagulat talaga ako. ‘Di ko na alam. Tinignan ko rin coaches nila, inaawat din siya. Kung may ginawa ako, dapat anuhin ako ng coaches nila.
“Nagulat talaga ako. Wala akong sinabi. Pisikal lang. Tingin ko yung larong Pinoy, ‘di siya sanay dun.”
Rice Jr.’s absence was taken advantage of by the Barangay, as they defeated the Texters 115-105 — the victory that will send them to the 2017 Governor’s Cup Finals for a rematch with new rivals Meralco Bolts.
The Bolts still have reigning Best Import Allen Durham in the fold. And if ever he will be given the chance to defend — and probably psych out — the versatile import, Ferrer said that it is a role that he is more than willing to accept.
“‘Di ko alam. Depende na lng sa role na bibigay sa akin ni coach Tim [Cone],” said the Gilas Pilipinas Cadet. “Team defense yan. A-accept ko yung role na ibibigay sa akin.
“Pero pwede naman, yun naman talaga ang trabaho ko.”
