TNT never bothered addresss the shouting incident between Poy Erram and Glenn Khobuntin and chose just to move on and focus on the task at hand of advancing to the finals of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Coach Chot Reyes said the team didn’t discuss the episode by the end of Game 3 or even the day after during practice.
Reyes even admitted such matter is just a natural thing for the Tropang Giga.
READ: All's well as Poy Erram apologizes to Khobuntin for 'selfish act'
“Ganun yung team namin, laging may nag-a-away, hindi lang sila. Sa amin, it’s just a matter of passion,” said the TNT coach, talking about the verbal spat between Erram and Khobuntin for the first time.
“Yes, we also talked about being able to control and regulate our emotions. But we didn’t even talk about it.”
The 35-year-old Erram lost his calm demeanor late in the first half of Sunday’s game apparently on a non-call.
He was later whistled for a technical foul for incessant complaining and was being pacified by deputy coach Sandy Arespacochaga and Khobuntin when he seemed to have snapped and suddenly, brushed away the hand of his TNT teammate.
The two, who both grew up in Cagayan De Oro, then exchanged heated words, with the 6-foot-8 Erram chest-bumping Khobuntin before being led away by Roger Pogoy and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
But even before TNT went to its dugout at the halftime break, the two TNT teammates were already seen in an embrace while tapping each other’s head.
The Tropang Giga incidentally, lost the game, 103-98.
“After the game, nagbi-biruan na yung dalawa, nagho-holding hands na silang dalawa. It was no big deal,” added Reyes. “It was just in the heat of the passion. We didn’t even talk about it in practice.”
Calvin Oftana, who is both close to Erram and Khobuntin as part of TNT’s group of Visayan players that also include Roger Pogoy, Barkley Ebona, Rey Nambatac, Brian Heruela, and team manager Jojo Lastimosa, said he understands where both players were coming.
“As a player normal yung frustrations, e. Siyempre sa ganung mga laban na dikdikan, lalabas talaga yung ugali na gusto mong manalo,” said the TNT forward.
“Parang sumabog lang si Poy, siguro dahil sa mga tawag (referees calls). Kaya sinabi ko sa kanila hayaan na natin sila coach na mag-rant doon sa referees. Maglaro na lang kami.”
They did just that and won Game 4 Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, 93-85, to move within reach of making the finals for the second straight time this season.
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