JUST like Yeng Guiao, Bong Quinto was quick to shake off the trash talk that he received from the Rain or Shine coach personal during the first game of their quarterfinal playoff in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
Quinto said he didn’t put too much thought into the incident and it just happened that it spread online shortly after the game.
“So for me, ‘yan ‘yung mga kinukuwento sa amin ni Raymond,” Quinto told SPIN.ph, referring to his teammate and former Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan’s stories about Guiao. “So ngayon, meron na akong kuwentong Coach Yeng.”
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“Siyempre, sa part na ‘yun, basketball ‘to eh. So kailangan ‘yung focus mo, kahit ano pang sasabihin sa 'yo, kahit anong marinig mo, use it as a fuel so ‘yun ‘yung ginawa ko,” Quinto said.
In a reel posted on the Summervlogs Facebook page, Guiao was caught hurling invectives at Quinto during Rain or Shine’s 96-79 loss to Meralco last December 27 as the game was momentarily came into a halt for a video review on the Meralco player’s elbow to Gian Mamuyac during a post-up move.
The 31-year-old Quinto said he took the advice that Almazan, who played for Rain or Shine from 2013 to 2019, told him before about Guiao.
READ Guiao says verbal assault on Bong Quinto 'nothing personal'
He also said the elbow was unintentional.
“At that time, nung nagsasalita siya, actually hindi na ako nakikinig kasi siyempre hindi naman dapat. Nasabihan ako ni Raymond na huwag daw ako tumingin kay Coach Yeng kaya alam ko naman kung anong gagawin ko.”
“Hindi pa lumalabas ‘yung video sa review at that time. Kung tinamaan ko talaga, dapat flagrant foul ako. So hindi naman siya big deal for me,” said Quinto.
Quinto eventually helped Meralco finish the job when he had 11 points in the Bolts’ 98-89 win over Rain or Shine to advance to the semifinals by winning twice over the Elasto Painters.
Quinto said he has high respect for Guiao and what he has accomplished over the years, and his gesture is all part of the gamesmanship that happens inside the court.
“Kinausap din ako nila Boss Paolo (Trillo, Meralco team manager) about doon. Pero for me, hindi naman siya big deal actually. Siguro, nagkataon lang na merong videos na lumalabas. Pero for me, knowing Coach Yeng, and kami as a player, sanay na kami sa ganung sitwasyon.”
“Gaya nga ng sabi ni Coach Yeng, basketball lang ‘yan so nothing personal. And ganun din ako. Sobrang taas ng respeto ko kay Coach Yeng. Every time na nami-meet ko siya, first game or second game, makasalubong ko siya, nagha-hi kami sa kanya in respect. As a player for me, ang saya ng feeling na mabanggit ni Coach Yeng ‘yung pangalan ko sa video. Okay lang naman. ‘Yun lang ‘yun,” said Quinto.
“Grabe ‘yung Rain or Shine. Grabe ‘yung binigay nila sa amin. Ganun din ‘yung binigay namin sa kanila. Sobrang ganda ng laban. Talagang ‘yung future ng Rain or Shine, maganda,” said Quinto.
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