WHAT was supposed to be a mere tune-up game between Gilas Pilipinas and Rain or Shine on Thursday afternoon heated up when Carl Cruz and Don Trollano came to blows in the second quarter.
After a made basket by the Elasto Painters, Cruz initially got entangled with ROS enforcer Dexter Maiquez, resulting in the latter falling to the floor that prompted Trollano to back up his fallen teammate by coming at Cruz and throwing a punch.
Cruz retaliated with his own combination of punches before cooler heads prevailed, resulting in the ejection of the Gilas stretch forward and Maiquez.
“Alam naman natin na physical game talaga 'to, lalo na Rain or Shine, so hindi mo maiwasan yung mga ganung pisikalan,” Cruz said after the game. “Nagpang-abot kami ni Maiquez, pero si Maiquez, alam ko naman na physical player talaga, D-League pa lang, nakakalaban ko na, so expected ko na yun. Pero normal lang sa amin yun.”
“Pero biglang pumasok sa loob si Trollano eh, susuntukin ako, so yun, hindi na napigilan, sumugod na rin ako,” he added.
Calvin Abueva was among those who pacified the situation, but his flying kick that looked more like an attempt at some comic relief resulted in an ejection like Cruz and Trollano.
At least Cruz appreciated his gesture.
“Nararamdaman ko na 'yung mga teammates ko, suportado sila sa akin kahit anong mangyari, lalo na si Calvin, nadamay pa sa akin,” Cruz said of his Gilas and Alaska teammate. “Pero nakakataba ng puso kasi alam kong nasa likod ko lang sila pag may trouble.”
Cruz felt their bond strengthened during their three-day Tagaytay training camp.
“Parang team building na rin sa amin yung kahit saglit lang,” Cruz said. “Malaking tulong sa amin yung training camp – na-build yung confidence namin sa isa't-isa, yung trust namin, so nadala rin namin sa game, kahit sa pag-away, nadala namin. Pero nag-sorry naman ako kay coach Chot, sabi ko it will not happen again. Tinanggap niya naman.”
Trollano had already left the venue when reporters tried to reach him, but ROS coach Caloy Garcia played down the incident.
“It's part of the game. Hopefully there won't be any fines,” Garcia said.
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