By REYNALD MAGALLON
Cambodia head coach Harry Savaya drew the ire of some members of Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff as well as the players over a late timeout that was deemed disrespectful when the game was already far from reach.
Tensions flared over the decision of the Cambodia head coach to call a timeout with 20 seconds left and the game already over and done.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes and assistant Tim Cone were very much upset while captain Chris Ross as well as Chris Newsome and Arvin Tolentino also seen confronting Savaya at the end of Gilas’ 79-68 loss to the host team which was bannered by six naturalized players.
Reyes refused to comment on the action of Savaya, who was also seen celebrating animatedly after the win, even gesturing the ‘night, night’ several times late in the contest, saying that his actions already showed him and his character.
“I just want to be very polite. It’s just an unwritten rule, that’s not even coaching ethics, that’s just ethics. If the other coach wants to make a fool of himself, that’s on him, it’s not our problem,” said Reyes after the game.
“You guys saw what happened. I don’t need to comment on that, his actions speak a lot more than anything I can say. His action says a lot more about him and his character more than I can ever say in words,” added Reyes.
It was not only Savaya who Gilas had a heated exchange with Ross and Tolentino was also caught in some shoving and verbal tussle against some of the Cambodian naturalized players during the physical contest.
The altercation could also be some show of frustration for Gilas which started the game flat and dug itself into a 16-point hole in the first half. It also didn’t help that the Nationals struggled with their shooting which was further typified by Justin Brownlee’s 3-of-13 shooting from the field.
