Some tune-up games aren’t fit to be called friendlies.
That was the case on Wednesday night at the Meralco Gym in Pasig City, as Gilas Pilipinas’ second scrimmage with the Jordanian national team ended unceremoniously since emotions ran high.
The game was called off with 6:26 remaining in the final frame, with Gilas ahead by nine, 82-73.
Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao was at the center of the altercation, as he had a verbal spat with his Jordanian counterparts – particularly with opposing chief tactician Joseph Stiebing.
The coaches had already gotten heated in the second after Christian Standhardinger was apparently floored. Things escalated again in the fourth after a Jordanian threw the ball at Scottie Thompson.
“They were getting too rugged on us,” said Guiao.
“Of course, it’s also the responsibility of the referees to take control of the game, and it’s also my responsibility to keep my players safe.
“Their player threw the ball at our player, which was unnecessary,” he added. “I felt that that was unnecessary, it was a takedown [on Christian]. Eh nandito tayo eh, respetuhin naman nila tayo.”
Guiao also expressed his displeasure with Stiebing.
“The coach said he was ready to take my ass. I was challenging him to take my ass, pero hindi naman niya ginawa,” said the 59-year-old.
“Akala mo sinong siga, hindi naman lalaban ng suntukan yun.”
It was an ugly incident, since the ghosts of that infamous July brawl still linger. But for the fiery Guiao, he simply did not want the home team to be disrespected by visitors.
“I just didn’t want to be bullied in our own country. They were bullying us all the way. Nandito tayo, tapos tayo pa yung binu-bully. Hindi naman dapat yun,” said the decorated bench strategist.
“I don’t know if they’re really inherently rugged or dirty, they were accusing us of being dirty. I don’t know what dirty things we did, hindi ko alam sinasabi nila. But sila, ang dami nilang second motion.
“They’re our guest, ano. Maybe it’s a two-way thing. But we did not do anything to them that they did not deserve. Ganun lang yun,” he added.
Still, Guiao had something to be glad about even if the tune-up ended abruptly. He was upbeat with the way his wards played compared to three nights ago, where they lost, 92-98.
In Wednesday’s meeting, Gilas overcame a huge 17-point deficit by replying with a 31-4 blitz for a 69-59 lead with 2:32 left in the third – a lead which they never gave up the rest of the way.
“We really played a bad first half. I felt that there was a lack of effort, a lack of desire on our side. But after our huddle at halftime, the guys responded,” lauded the 28-year veteran coach.
“In our quarter we were able to catch up and in the fourth quarter we were already in the lead. by double digits. It’s a tribute to them not wanting to be embarrassed in a situation like this,” he added.
“It’s a test of character and I felt that this is the kind of character that we need for a national team.”
