NLEX Road Warriors guard Enoch Valdez claimed he had no intention of hurting or starting a fight with Changwon LG Sakers import Archie Goodwin, Insisting videos of the commotion that surfaced on social media were spliced.
Valdez believes that the visiting team from the Korean Basketball League is behind the dissemination of the video, which he claimed portrays him as the starter of the near brawl that marred the tune-up game.
WATCH: Fight in Changwon-NLEX tune-up game surfaces online
“Parang lumalabas po, ako na ang mali kasi kulang yung video na nilabas nila. Alam ko po sila ang naglabas nun, dahil kami, ilalabas pa lang namin yung video, yun ang puno’t dulo ng lahat,” said Valdez.
“Ang masakit po ngayon, ako ang bina-bash sa social media dahil nga lumalabas na ako ang puno’t dulo ng lahat,” he said.
The former Lyceum Pirates star stressed that he was only playing his usual defense, which probably did not sit well with Goodwin.
“Chinallenge kasi ako ni coach Jimmy (Alapag), sabi nya kaya ko daw ba bantayan ang NBA player? Sabi ko, ‘Yes coach.' So, para sa 'kin part lang ng defense ginawa ko, gaya kung paano ko bantayan mga PBA player,” he said.
“Alam nyo naman po matagal ako na di nagamit [sa NLEX] so, kung depensa papagawa sakin, binibigay ko po lahat as long as hindi ako makakasakit,” added the former NCAA All Star.
Asked what really ignited the near fracas, Valdez explained it was probably Goodwin not liking the physicality.
“Kasi after ko siya ma-foul sa isang sequence, may extra swing siya sa akin, tinamaan pa nga ako sa baba. Then after nagkabanggaan kami habang pababa ako sa offense, dun na nagkagulo,” added the 25-year-old Pangasinense.
Valdez stressed he was never known to be an enforcer his entire career.
In fact, he claimed that since being drafted in the PBA in 2023, he was only called no more than three times for a technical foul, but nothing serious.
“Kahit po balikan n'yo record ng PBA, lahat ng mga technicals ko, kaunti lang yun, puro basic. Wala pong nanakit ako, wala pong may gulo na involve ako,” he said. “Actually kahit po sa PBA office, never pa ko napatawag ng commissioner."
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