CALAMBA, LAGUNA — The heated rivalry between Nueva Ecija and Uling Roasters-Butuan did not end on the court.
After the Rice Vanguards eked out a 20-19 win over the one-leg champs, the two squads figured in a scuffle at the backstage area of the halfcourt of INSPIRE Sports Academy here.
According to eye-witness accounts, Chris De Chavez and Karl Dehesa did not take too kindly to the celebration of Gab Banal and the Rice Vanguards after absorbing a 19-20 loss.
Dehesa was allegedly waiting backstage for Banal, who had taunted them the whole game.
People on the court quickly went backstage to separate the two camps, bringing Nueva Ecija to the waiting room since it is still set to face Zamboanga City in the Million-Peso Game. Even players from Zamboanga City had to restrain the two sides.
The two squads were already at each others’ throats in the pre-season.
Clearly, this rivalry is far from over.
