By REYNALD MAGALLON
NorthPort team manager Pido Jarencio expressed remorse over his actions during his verbal altercation with NLEX import Thomas Robinson after the Road Warriors’ 112-103 victory over the Batang Pier on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Tempers flared between the two sides as Robinson and Jarencio engaged in a verbal tussle on their way to their respective dugouts at the end of the contest. Unpleasant words and threats were even hurled between the two before cooler heads, including commissioner Willie Marcial, prevailed.
The former NorthPort coach turned team manager shared that he already reached out to Marcial a day after the incident, apologizing for his actions. While he admitted that he also threw offensive words towards Robinson, Jarencio said he was just caught in the heat of the moment and his words didn’t really mean anything.
“Nakausap ko na si commissioner Willie and nag apologize na ako. Sinabi ko kung ano ‘yung mga nangyari. Yung mga nasabi naman natin, hindi naman iyon seryoso. Bugso lang ng damdamin,” said Jarencio.
The altercation stemmed in a commotion during the third quarter when Robinson and NorthPort forward JM Calma got physical against each other in front of the Batang Pier bench. The NLEX import then got into an argument with NorthPort governor Erick Arejola and then later on Jarencio.
A technical foul on Robinson seemed to have momentarily pacified the situation before he once again confronted Arejola and Jarencio after the customary hand shake between the opposing coaches at the end of the game.
Jarencio said he was simply acting as a pacifier but Robinson also hurled words at him, prompting him to react and stand up against the former NBA player.
“Umaawat lang rin naman ako dun. Marami lang rin siyang sinasabi so pinagtanggol ko lang rin naman. Syempre di naman ugali natin na mang iwan,” said Jarencio.
The concurrent University of Sto. Tomas mentor, however, he already put the spat behind and is actually willing to patching things up with Robinson
“Sana maintindihan ng iba na very passionate lang ako sa laro and si Robinson ganoon rin kaya ganun yung nangyari,” said Jarencio.
“Pero okay naman sakin wala naman nang kaso sa akin,. Magsosorry rin ako sa kanya, willing naman ako kung magkita kami uli, magkamayan kami,” he added.
Robinson has already played down the spat, saying that the Batang Pier were simply upset about the loss and they were just being competitive.
“He’s just upset they lost. We won,” said Robinson. “He’s competing. I’m competing, that’s all.”
