MAPUA forward JC Recto vehemently denied the game-fixing allegations thrown at him following a controversial exchange at the PlayTime Cares Filoil EcoOil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive.
“Hindi ko po kayang gawin yung mga ganoon na sinasabi nila,” he told SPIN.ph on Wednesday.
Recto has been the fodder of social media talk after the Cardinals’ 77-70 victory over San Sebastian last Monday.
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Shooting a pair of free throws with 32.5 seconds left with his team leading 74-67, Recto missed his first free throw and was seen mouthing to a teammate what his next charity will be – one which also turned to a miss.
The Mindoro-born banger, though, aired his side of the story, noting that he was already nursing an injured hand, but believed that he can still make his second free throw to assure his teammate Cyrus Nitura, who was jostling to get the offensive rebound.
“Ang sinasabi ko talaga kay Cyrus, ‘Papasok ‘to.’ Kasi pumupusisyon na siya para sa rebound," he said.
"Hindi ko naman po kayang gawin yung mga ganoong sinasabi nila tsaka alam naman namin na halos (kami) na rin yung panalo sa game.”
The Cardinals were also quick to leap to Recto's defense.
“Tiwala ako sa mga players namin. Sa akin, sabi-sabi lang yung mga ganyan,” said Mapua coach Randy Alcantara. “Kung may ganoon man, sa akin dapat ang sisi doon kasi malaki ang tiwala ko sa mga bata.”
Team captain Clint Escamis added: “Hindi kami naniniwala kasi in-game antics na rin ni JC yung ganun na nakikipag-usap siya sa amin during ng laro.”
Recto actually isn’t the best free throw shooter among the Cardinals.
Shooting just 1-of-5 from the charity stripe in the premier preseason league, the 6-foot-7 slotman only went 57-percent from the free throw line last NCAA Season 100.
“Di rin naman kami nagulat na nagmintis si JC kasi nahihirapan din talaga siya maka-shoot pagdating sa free throws. Pero lahat naman nagmi-miss, so hindi na rin bago yun,” said Alcantara.
Escamis added that the talk has also become a running joke in their dugout, saying, “Alam naman namin sa family namin yung totoo kahit ano pa ang sabihin ng iba.”
You come at the king, you best not miss
More than anything, the Cardinals are looking at it as unnecessary distraction all the more as the Intramuros side aims for back-to-back crowns this NCAA Season 101.
Alcantara explained: “Actually simula pa lang this year, ang dami nang nasasabi sa team namin. Kung lalawakan mo yung pagtingin mo, syempre gusto ng lahat na ma-dethrone kami kaya ang sinasabi ko lang sa mga bata is focus tayo sa trabaho natin which is yung sa paparating na NCAA.”
It’s also being used at as a rallying point by Escamis, stating that adversities like these should only tighten their bond as brothers.
“Sama-sama kami dito. Poprotektahan namin yung kapatid namin kasi alam naman namin yung totoo,” said the reigning NCAA Finals MVP.
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