IT’S not everyday that you see the impossibly affable Jong Uichico hunched over an opposing team’s player delivering some nasty looking ground and pound, so let’s try to parse through that basketbrawl that happened a few days ago.
LOGO. Here’s what we know. A few days ago, the Australian team apparently earned the ire of some basketball officials when they removed the decals on the court which were purportedly the Philippine team/FIBA logos on the court, sans pmission .
I saw the video on Twitter but they looked to be predominantly PLDT logos. (that’s our official emblem? Just asking)
GAME. Coach Chot Reyes also alleged that during the warm-ups, Australian player Daniel Kickert hit his players during warm-ups. (How is this possible?)
The game itself was quite physical and the refs botched a few calls which could have changed the temper of the game. Purportedly, the Australians also did a lot of trash-talking when the Pinoys shot free throws.
In the third quarter. as Roger Pogoy drove in, he elbowed Christopher Goulding. Kickert saw this and clotheslined Pogoy with an elbow that he never saw coming.
That escalated quickly and all hell broke loose.
Video clips showed Jason Castro landing with his version of a “superman punch” in MMA. And Australian Thon Maker should forget about having an MMA career. His flying knees were all over and hit nothing but thin air.
Terence Romeo also landed a good right hand and deftly parried Maker’s flying knees, but it was Coach Uichico who should have been gone home with Fighter of the Night honors.
BLAME. The full spectrum of opinion is divided on this one. There were those who justify the actions of the Pinoy players saying they did what they had to do. Even Coach Chot Reyes was interviewed defending his players, calling it unfortunate but essentially claiming that the Australians started it.
Coach Uichico was more circumspect and immediately issued an apology on Twitter.
My take? I understand the temperament of the players on the court at that time. The elbow thrown by Pogoy could have been called a flagrant foul and merited an ejection.
Kickert coming in and blindsiding the much smaller Pogoy was the indefensible trigger. Having played in sandlots as a kid in the streets of A. Lopez , I know what it’s like to stand by your team mates when all hell breaks loose on the court.
What is unacceptable is players coming off the bench as it only serves to escalate matters. Aside of course from the penalties that will be imposed, it changes the complexion of the melee that is ongoing.
What was tragic was how our coaching staff also got into it for the whole world to see.
LAST ROUND.It’s on Auntie Myrna Orozco who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!