GLENN Khobuntin was quick to dismiss his verbal altercation with TNT teammate Poy Erram as nothing more than an show of emotions between two players who both want badly to win.
The 33-year-old forward said there’s nothing more to the incident that marred the Tropang Giga's’ 103-98 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters on Sunday night in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
READ TNT teammates Poy Erram, Glenn Khobuntin fight each other in Game 3
Khobuntin said tension was just running high during that moment shortly after Erram was whistled for a technical foul due to excessive complaining with 18 seconds to go before the break and TNT trailing, 41-48.
“High emotions, e. Una ang pangit ng laro namin. Pero friendly fire lang naman yun. Sobrang tagal ko nang kilala si Poy,” said the product of National University following the loss that cut TNT’s lead at 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.
Erram apparently complained about being held by a Rain or Shine defender that led to him failing to handle the pass made by Rey Nambatac. The veteran big man obviously lost his cool and complained to the referees, getting a technical foul.
Erram continued to complain to the referees at the top of his voice, prompting TNT deputy coach Sandy Arespacochaga and Khobuntin to step in and try to cool him down.
The TNT center, however, didn’t take what Khobuntin told him too well, shoving his teammate twice to spark the heated exchange of words.
Import Rondae Hollis Jefferson and Roger Pogoy then pulled Erram away from the team bench to prevent the situation from escalating.
“Sabi ko lang naman baka mag-two technical fouls pa siya, e sobrang importante niya kanina. So yun lang yun,” said Khobuntin.
But he did admit being taken aback by Erram’s action.
“Medyo nagulat din ako. Pero yun lang yun,” said Khobuntin. “Siyempre tao lang din naman tayo. So control din natin yung emotions natin kasi we’re in the middle of a game. Sayang naman, dikit pa (yung laro).”
Having grown up in Mindanao, Erram and Khobuntin have developed a deep bond especially when they became TNT teammates. They actually make up the ‘Bisaya’ faction at TNT together with Pogoy, Nambatac, Calvin Oftana, Brian Heruela, and team manager Jojo Lastimosa.
Khobuntin knew where Erram was coming from.
“Una hindi siya tinatawagan ng foul, yun ang feeling niya e. Maraming humahawak sa kanya hindi napapansin ng refs. Siyempre halo-halo na yung emotions,” he said.
But even before the halftime was over, Khobuntin and Erram already smoked the peace pipe as they were seen hugging each other on the sidelines.
“Parehas lang kaming Bisaya nun so language namin yung pinagsasabi namin,” Khobuntin said.
Erram finished with 10 points (3-of-4 from the field), four rebounds, and two assists, while Khobuntin had two points and five boards as the Tropang Giga lost for the first time in the semis series.
Erram politely begged off from talking about about the incident.
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