CLIFF Hodge denied he was trying to hit Kevin Alas on the head on purpose as NLEX coach Yeng Guiao claimed.
Hodge said he was going for the block as Alas fell down to the floor. He was slapped with a flagrant foul penalty one with 6:35 left in the fourth, .
See Alas says Hodge hit 'not a basketball play,' but quick to let go
“Went for a block and he got hit in the face,” said Hodge, when asked about the incident.
Guiao, however, took exception to the action of Hodge, claiming that he was intentionally trying to hit Alas when he went for a lay-up.
“Naka-mask na nga si Kevin, alam naman natin may fracture sa ilong. Pero parang sinadya ni Cliff Hodge,” said Guiao during the postgame press conference.
“Cheap shot ‘yun,” he added.
NLEX wins a heated game against Meralco.
When told what Guiao said, Hodge replied: “I don’t care what coach Yeng says.”
Hodge said he apologized to Alas after the game, an action that was later confirmed by the NLEX star.
“I apologized. Kevin knows. I’m not like that. Just happened,” said Hodge.
Guiao and Hodge have their share of confrontations before. In 2014, Guiao was fined P100,000 for confronting Hodge when the coach was still handling Rain or Shine and calling the Fil-Am a ‘mongoloid’ during the incident.
While he criticized the action, Guiao said he also understands the incident since the game was so important for both teams. NLEX won the game over Meralco, 90-75, and the teams now share fifth spot with a 3-2 win-loss record.
“Pero kasama ‘yun sa emotion. Naiintindihan din namin ‘yun. Gusto nila manalo. Gusto rin naming manalo,” said Guiao.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
