IAN Sangalang defended himself from accusations that he intentionally poked Rain or Shine import Aaron Fuller in the eye early in Game Two of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals between Magnolia and Rain or Shine.
Speaking to reporters who sought him out to get his side on the issue on Tuesday, Sangalang insisted he didn’t poke Fuller in the eye on purpose, contrary to sentiments of some including Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao.
“Unang-una siyempre, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na hindi ako ganung tao. Hindi ko magagawa ‘yun. Para sa akin, aksidente ‘yung nangyari,” said Sangalang after Magnolia’s 129-100 win over Rain or Shine in Game Four.
READ PBA hits Ian Sangalang with P20,000 fine for poking Fuller's eye
Sangalang was accused of intentionally poking Fuller in the eye after his shot was deflected by the Rain or Shine import. One of Sangalang’s fingers hit Fuller’s eye, causing him to miss the rest of Game Two.
Fuller was able to suit up in Game Three and played through a torn cornea.
On Sunday, the Magnolia big man was hit with a P20,000 fine for the incident but he stood by his innocence, saying it would be very difficult to hit Fuller in the eye while going through his shooting motion, if it was indeed intentional.
“Kung sasadyain mo ‘yun, mahirap ‘yun. Walang makakagawa nun na sasadyain mo ‘yung tusukin sa mata. Sabi nila, naka-ganun daw ‘yung daliri ko. Siyempre, hindi ko naman puwedeng maging closed fist, mas mahirap ‘yun, puwedeng tumama,” said Sangalang.
“’Yung nangyari, hindi ko talaga sinasadya. Aksidente talaga ‘yun para sa akin kasi hinampas niya ‘yung kamay ko, pataas ako, napigilan ‘yung braso ko kaya hindi ko naangat ‘yung kamay ko. Kitang kita naman na hinard foul ako, so napigilan ‘yung kamay ko. Hindi ko intensyon na tamaan talaga ‘yung mata. Hindi ko nga alam na tinamaan siya ng ganun katindi,” said Sangalang.
Sangalang said he was never known as a dirty player in his 12 years in the PBA.
“Twelve years na ako sa PBA, isang beses pa lang ako na-flagrant foul, eh nangyari pa ‘yun ngayong season. Ngayong season lang nangyari against RHJ. ‘Yun pa lang ang record ko sa flagrant foul sa 12 years ko. ‘Yun pa lang,” said Sangalang.
“Hindi talaga ako ganun. Kahit sabihin mong ganun ako, hinding-hindi ko magagawa ‘yun. Hindi ko kayang manakit ng kapwa player ko. Alam ko na nagtatrabaho din siya para sa pamilya niya. Pare-parehas lang kaming nagtatrabaho dito para sa pamilya namin. Para manakit ng player, wala sa bokabularyo ko,” said Sangalang.
No beef with Fuller
Sangalang said there is no beef between him and Fuller, who even spoke to him during Game Four to ask about Zav Lucero, who missed the match due to concussion protocols.
Sangalang said he has yet to speak to Guiao, although he admitted he was surprised by the head coach’s accusation.
“Kanina nag-usap kami [ni Fuller] sa loob kasi tinatanong niya pa kung anong nangyari kay Zavier bakit hindi siya naglalaro. Sinagot ko naman siya. Mabait din naman ‘yung import. Hindi nananakit kahit pisikalan. Alam niya rin kasi ‘yung basketball na ganun talaga na anytime, puwede kang masaktan. Ako nga nasasaktan din ako pero hindi ko sinasabi na sinadya mo akong tirahin kasi part ng basketball ‘yan,” said Sangalang.
“Hindi pa kami nag-uusap eh,” said Sangalang, when asked about Guiao, a fellow Kapampangan. “Kung sinasabi niyang sinadya ko ‘yun, para sa akin, hinding-hindi ko sasadyain na manusok ng mata.”
“Nagulat talaga ako pero alam ko na ‘yung nasa isip na sinabi na sinadya ko. Sa akin, wala lang. Nag-usap usap din kami na ganun talaga. Wala ka nang magagawa, sinabi na ‘yun. Eh di basta ako, alam ko sa sarili ko na hinding-hindi ko kayang gawin ‘yun."
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