ANTIPOLO – Juami Tiongson had a rare show of emotion on Friday night when the newly-acquired San Miguel guard got into a verbal spat with Converge's Alec Stockton.
The incident happened with 3:10 left in the Beermen's 116-113 win over the FiberXers, as Tiongson was called for a technical for second motion after getting fouled by Stockton.
READ: San Miguel survives a fiery Converge fightback - barely
Tiongson was then slapped with another technical foul along with Stockton when they exchanged words right after. Tiongson stayed in the game, as PBA rules state that a player will only be ejected on a third technical foul.
Tiongson shrugged off the incident, saying it was nothing personal and just part of the game.
“For me, I really was just intense and competitive. At the end of the day, Alec and I are friends naman off the court. Just on the court (‘yung nangyari),” he said.
In fact, the San Miguel and Converge guards approached and greeted each other after the final buzzer.
Tiongson said competitive fire just got to him, especially in the crucial game where the Beermen needed a win to remain at eighth place instead of dropping to 10th.
“It’s a must-win,” said Tiongson. “It’s more of the competitive fire, wanting to win, wanting to make the playoffs. Siyempre, I’m a new guy and as expected naman, San Miguel, it’s an elite team. You can’t play the playoffs without San Miguel.”
Beermen's focus
San Miguel coach Leo Austria, however, also urged his wards to keep their emotions in check moving forward. The game also saw a technical foul called on Jericho Cruz, and a rare flagrant foul penalty one whistled on June Mar Fajardo.
"I think our players were so emotional to the point na nakakakuha kami ng technical foul. We should learn from that,” said Austria. “Maturity is something we have to consider to improve our team.”
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.
