Pido Jarencio and Thomas Robinson were at the center of a heated encounter after NLEX’s win over NorthPort in PBA Commissioner’s Cup action Wednesday.
The two confronted one another and figured in a shouting match as both teams entered the dugout of the SMART Araneta Coliseum before cooler heads defused the situation, which included Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Serving as Batang Pier team manager, Jarencio was heard hurling grave threats at the former NBA veteran before he was brought back to their locker room.
“You are one bullet, I will shoot you later… Happy New Year,” the concurrent UST head coach was heard saying.
Unpleasantries exchanged between Pido and TRob after the NLEX-Northport game#PBA2023 pic.twitter.com/axzRZhVzMK
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) November 22, 2023
The incident stemmed from the third quarter, when Robinson and sophomore big man JM Calma were being physical with one another at the 5:15-mark before NorthPort team governor Erick Arejola stepped in.
Arejola entered the court and pointed his finger at Robinson, who was talking to the referee at that time. Jarencio would get involved shortly after and was seen on the broadcast cameras saying something towards Robinson.
It would then spill all the way to the Big Dome tunnel but both teams eventually patched things up, with Arejola approaching NLEX head coach Frankie Lim.
Members of the press tried to get the side of Jarencio regarding the matter but the 59-year-old mentor had already left the venue.
It remains to be seen if Jarencio, Robinson, and all the others involved in the situation will be summoned by the Commissioner’s Office.
