With their emotions heading to a fever pitch, heads turned when Marck Espejo and Vince Mangulabnan had a verbal altercation at the bench right after the end of the second set of their Game Three semifinals match against the Sta. Elena Ball Hammers.
According to Cignal head coach Dexter Clamor, the spat rooted from a miscommunication between the two during a tight second set – which they lost, 28-30.
Espejo uttered something which Mangulabnan thought was directed at him. That, apparently, triggered the commotion between the two.
“Akala lang ni Vince siya yung sinasabihan ni Marck. It may look intense pero hindi naman ganun kalala, ganun talaga lahat kasi gusto manalo,” said Clamor.
“Hindi matatawaran yung character nila sa loob ng court, parehong gustong gusto manalo. Ganun talaga pero after that wala na yun.”
The two-time Spikers’ Turf Best Setter also cleared the air right after the game, explaining that all is well between him and Espejo.
“Misunderstanding lang lahat, after nun ‘pag pasok ng court eh okay na kami. Gusto [lang] namin lahat manalo,” said Mangulabnan.
“Para ko nang kapatid din si Marck. Mostly ‘yan ang turingan namin sa Cignal team, tini-treat namin yung isa’t isa na parang kapatid.”
The incident may have turned out as a positive thing for the HD Spikers.
Espejo unloaded 19 points which included 15 attacks while Mangulabnan steered the offense and tallied a total of 42 excellent sets to go along with his four points to lead Cignal in a triumphant Game Three victory against Sta. Elena en route to the Finals.
