By JONAS TERRADO
NLEX coach Yeng Guiao came to the defense of Will McAloney, saying the rookie big man had no intention to hurt TNT’s Ray Parks Jr. during their PBA Philippine Cup game Thursday night at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Parks was sent crashing to the floor after being undercut by McAloney with 4:54 left in the third quarter of the Road Warriors’ 109-98 win, triggering a verbal exchange between Tropang Giga veteran Jay Washington and Guiao.
But Guiao said McAloney’s foul which was a Flagrant 1 wasn’t a deliberate act.
“I mean, he had no bad intention,” Guiao said during the postgame interview inside the press room. “And then, ewan ko kung binubully niya nun or inintimidate si Will. Will is a rookie and he had no bad intention. Will has no bad bone in his body. He just plays hard every time.”
“To those who know him how he plays in the MPBL, he’s just a rugged player. He doesn’t really look to harm anybody,” added Guiao, referring to McAloney’s stint in the regional league prior to getting selected in last year’s PBA Draft.
As for the Washington incident that didn’t escalate when cooler heads prevailed, Guiao felt he had good reason to respond.
“I don’t think J-Wash was in the court when it happened. Tapos pumunta pa dun sa side nun. Lumapit pa sa side namin,” he said. “So, I just really don’t want to pass without them hearing my side.”
The incident was one of the highlights of what was an eventful contest between the two MVP-owned teams.
Parks and NLEX’s JR Quinahan each got a Flagrant 1 near the conclusion of the match when the two got entangled before the two exchanges hits to the head.
NLEX’s Kevin Alas also got a bloody nose after an accidental hit on the shoulder of TNT’s Jayson Castro near the end of the first half. But Alas was able to get treatment and played a crucial role in the Road Warriors’ upset victory.
The scores:
NLEX 109 — Alas 24, Cruz 19, Ravena 16, Miranda 8, Ayonayon 8, Quinahan 8, Semerad 7, Soyud 6, McAloney 6, Varilla 5, Porter 2, Ighalo 0.
TNT 98 — Castro 27, Pogoy 16, Parks 15, Enciso 11, Rosario 11, Erram 9, Reyes 7, De Leon 2, Semerad 0, Washington 0.
Quarters: 24-32, 53-48, 75-67, 109-98.
