NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao believes that Dave Marcelo intended to hurt Poy Erram in a rebound battle during the Road Warriors’ clash with the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, Saturday evening in the 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup.
The 6-foot-7 Erram exited the match with 11:17 remaining in the second quarter after hurting his left arm. Replays then showed that Marcelo apparently locked Erram’s arm while they jockeyed for position near the rim.
Erram did not return to the game, and was later on brought to the hospital. He left with just two rebounds.
“They had to rush him to the hospital just to make sure there’s no fracture.
“But I felt that there was bad intention when they did that. If you see in the tape, he made a forceful motion to really bend his arm,” the outspoken coach rued.
The Road Warriors still managed to pull through even without their top big man. They took control of the match in the third canto, before warding off the opposition 123-116 for a successful start in the season-ending conference.
Guiao lauded guys like Kiefer Ravena, Paul Varilla, Bong Galanza, and Philip Paniamogan for showing up.
“These are the guys that provided the spark that we needed to get a run going and the game in control,” he said.
Still, Erram’s injury situation is not lost on Guiao. He hopes that the league will look into it.
“I think that should be looked out by the PBA. They are not regular fouls. They’re meant to harm.”
