Another PBA tune up game was halted as players from Kia and Barako Bull had a heated verbal altercation late in the third quarter of their scrimmage at the Green Meadows gym in Quezon City.
Barako Bull mentor Koy Banal said the game was already physical as allowed by the referees, but what he didn’t like was the trash talks from Kia players, particularly its import, 7-foot-4 PJ Ramos.
At one point in the game, Banal said Ramos bumped him while he was at the sidelines calling a play, and he thinks it was intentional.
Kia’s reinforcement from Puerto Rico taunted almost all Barako Bull players, Banal said.
“May unnecessary na hawakan, tulakan, banggaan, kasi masyado naging maluwag yung tawagan ng refs e. Tapos yung Kia import pa, tina-taunt yung mga players ko, pati nga ako binangga. E no-no yun, nakita ng referees pero walang tawag,” said Banal.
“Wala respeto yung import, kaya nung isang play sinabihan ko sya, ‘Why you’re doing that, you can’t do that here’. Tapos yung rookies nila (Webb and Buensuceso) nag-taunt sa harap ng bench namin, dun na nagalit si Dorian (Pena), tumayo na from the bench,” added Banal
The Barako Bull bench tactician said there was some shoving, but no punch was thrown from either side, but the game was stopped late in the third quarter with Kia ahead by double-digit points.
The PBA Commissioner’s Office, which is expected to review the game tape and issue penalties if necessary, is implementing a new league rule to stop the game marred by a fight. (Waylon Galvez)