Mahindra bruiser Mark Yee says no malice
Five minutes had just passed in the second half of the match-up pitting the Mahindra Floodbuster and the Meralco Bolts when second-year Meralco guard Baser Amer crumpled to the floor, clutching his left ankle. As he had attempted a breakaway lay-up with 7:07 left in the third canto, he landed squarely on the right foot of Mark Yee, who tried to challenge the shot.
“Pasa niya kay Reynel tapos tumalon ako kay Reynel, tapos pinasa sa kanya ni Reynel, kaya wala naman ako magagawa dun kung hindi tatayo, kunin yung bola para i-inbound, kaso nga lang, pasugod siya sa akin, kaya bumagsak siya sa akin,” the 35-year-old explained.
After careful review by the officials, the 6-foot-3 big man was assessed a flagrant two — automatically ejecting him from the game. On the other hand, Amer was able to make the resulting free throw but did not return to the game.
Yee, an eight-year league veteran, has no qualms about the referee’s decision to eject him but stressed that it had been just an accident.
“Kung ano yung [tawag] nung referee, wala na akong magagawa dun. Nire-respeto ko yung tawag nila,” said Yee, who finished the game with 5 points and 8 rebounds.
“Wala [akong masamang intention], kasi hindi ko naman nakita siya eh.”
Even if Mahindra had been able to win their second game of the conference, 105-92, the Negros Occidental native is expecting a hefty fine from the league stemming from this.
“Unang-una, nabawasan yung pambayad sa fine, kasi malaki yun,” he shared about where his win bonus will go.
“Sobrang laki ng fine nun. Baka wala pa sa one-fourth nung fine yun, yung bonus eh. Maghahap pa ng pambayad sa fine. Bawas sa sahod na naman yun. Walang magagawa, kasama sa laro.”
And it’s now a waiting game for Yee.
