Kobe Monje was looking forward to playing in his first-ever NCAA Seniors Basketball Finals game on Sunday.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned for the 6-foot-3 rookie.
Monje was assessed an unsportsmanlike foul when he elbowed Macoy Marcos on the head at the 7:34 mark of the second quarter.
Besides the ejection, he is also automatically suspended for Game Two. Yes, he will miss the possible title-clincher for Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Monje, who played for Manila in the MPBL, shared that he did not mean inflict any harm on Marcos.
After all, Marcos is a good friend of his.
“’Yung nangyari naman kanina… ‘Di naman ako ganon na player. Talagang na-[focus] lang ako kasi kukuha lang ako ng puwesto, pero ‘di ko talaga sinasadya ‘yun. Kaibigan ko si Macoy [Marcos] eh, di ko naman [sasaktan] ‘yun,” said the native of Sorsogon after their 81-75 Game One win.
Knights head coach Bonnie Tan added that Monje is a good kid and that they might appeal the suspension.
“Kasi ang reason niya sa amin, he’s just switching the defense namin with the other bigs namin,” said the three-time NCAA champion coach.
“So, unfortunately, ‘yun ang hatol ng na-review nila, na review ng committee. So I hope na ma-consider nila if ever mag-appeal ‘yung school eh… for Kobe Monje para makapaglaro for the next game namin.”
If ever his appeal is granted, Monje vows to be on his best behavior and do his best to help the Knights capture a three-peat.
“Babawi ako, babawi talaga ako kasi hindi man lang ako pinagpawisan nun. Pinasok lang ako almost two minutes lang eh.”
