Even with the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup game between NLEX and the TNT KaTropa on Wednesday night already decided with 13 seconds left to play, Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao was still complaining to the referees.
Guiao did not like KaTropa bruiser David Semerad’s physical plays on NLEX’s Poy Erram. The two were caught in an armlock just near the rim, but it led to an offensive foul against the latter.
So when the final buzzer sounded and with TNT emerging triumphant, 102-87, the outspoken bench strategist made sure to talk to Semerad regarding the incident, clearly coming into the defense of his prized 6-foot-7 slotman.
“‘Di ko naman siya inaway. Napagsabihan ko lang kasi nagrereklamo si Poy. The game was already decided, tapos na, tinu-twist pa rin ni Semerad yung arm niya, eh nasaktan daw siya. Sabi niya parang mababali,” Guiao recalled.
“So sabi ko, ‘That’s not necessary sa ganoong situation. The game was already won.’
“Wala namang necessity to be that rough or rugged. Nagreklamo si Poy sa akin, so I just needed to put the message across,” added the fiery Guiao.
Guiao, however, talked to the wrong Semerad.
Instead of airing his concerns to David, Guiao – who apparently had no idea there are two Semerads on the TNT side who are twins – talked to Anthony. Thankfully, Anthony played it cool and let it pass.
Guiao was then told of that mistaken identity. But even if he appeared confused at first, he shrugged it off.
“Eh wala naman akong pakialam kung sino sa kanila yun. Pwede na yun, ‘di ba?” said Guiao with a grin, drawing laughter from reporters. “Wala naman akong pakialam sa kanila kung sino man. Ikwento na lang niya sa isa.
“Wala akong pakialam kung napagkamalan ko sila. Alam na nila yun kung sino yun.”
