Paul Varilla believes that Michael Qualls intentionally stepped on him when the two players got into it late in the NLEX Road Warriors’ 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal meeting with NorthPort on Monday.
A commotion took place with 4:54 remaining, and with the Batang Pier up, 95-81. Qualls landed on Varilla while he attacked the rim, and that didn’t sit well with the latter as he charged towards the Qualls.
A near-fight then broke out afterward. Center Poy Erram came to Varilla’s defense, swinging his arm and catching Qualls on the nape. Fortunately, though, things were put under control.
After reviews, Erram and Varilla were assessed with flagrant foul penalty two, leading to their ejection. The Batang Pier were awarded six free throws that pushed their lead to 100-81.
NorthPort eventually won, 115-90, moving a step closer in disabling NLEX’s twice-to-beat advantage.
“On the last play, he attacked the basket. I was trying to get a charge so I fell down. When I fell, he stepped on me on purpose because we’re going back at it from earlier on,” Varilla said.
Varilla said that things had already been heated between him and Qualls even before the incident late in the game.
“He started it first on the court. I was trying to get an offensive rebound, then I became physical with him. And then he was calling me names,” said the wingman out of University of the East.
“So I wanted to make a stand. This is the playoffs, so I’m not gonna back down to him.”
The league will likely hand out further sanctions following the incident. Still, Varilla hopes that it will not affect his and Erram’s status for the do-or-die game set on Wednesday, November 27.
“I hope not. I hope not,” said the Road Warriors’ 13th pick in last year’s draft.
“We just have to wait and find out.”
Erram was reached by members of the press for comment, but the 6-foot-7 slotman respectfully declined.
