Emotions ran high early in Game 2 of Alaska and Globalport’s Philippine Cup semi-finals series Wednesday night, with five players getting involved in a scuffle late in the first quarter. Members of the teams’ respective coaching staffs and team officials also entered the court, as the scene led to a total of 13 technical fouls.
Alaska won the heated encounter, 100-76, in a game which tied the all-time record for most total technical fouls with 16 (Alaska-Shell, 1997).
Jay Washington, one of the players who figured in the commotion when he shoved Calvin Abueva, explained he was only protecting himself as a player.
“All the dirty shit, it’s all unneccesary. They know I don’t play that way but at the same time I have to protect myself as a player,” Washington shared. “If he is doing it, then… the funny about calling second motion is if you call the first motion, there won’t be a second motion. But it is all part of the game.”
Washington accrued another technical in the second half on an inadvertent hit, causing him to be ejected. Washington did finish with 10 points but admitted he was disappointed with how things panned out.
“Of course, but that was the course of the game and me trying to fight for my team as well. I have to be smart at stuff but at the same time like what I’ve said I have to protect myself as a player. I won’t just let players keep throwing themselves to my knees and doing all that stuff.”
Apologetic about the incident, Washington hopes for understanding when the time comes for him to explain his side to the PBA.
“For sure I have to see the commissioner to explain my side and I will say it was their (Alaska) game plan to play that way, a lot more physical, get into their antics,” Washington said of the scuffle involving Calvin Abueva, Dondon Hontiveros, Vic Manuel, and Anthony Semerad. “I will tell the commissioner I never play that way. This is not my style of basketball. I am not a dirty player and hopefully he knows that and see my side.”
Abueva himself has been on good terms with Washington, even videobombing an interview with reporters after the match.
With the series tied at 1-1 and Washington an important piece of the Batang Pier’s frontcourt, the forward hopes to play the next time out.
