PAMPANGA Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda apologized to the Phoenix Fuel Masters for a social media post by suspended big man Larry Muyang.
Pineda, who led the Giant Lanterns to back-to-back MPBL championships, said he regretted that some cyber users misunderstood a post by the 29-year-old Muyang as having something to do with his fallout with the Fuel Masters.
Now a deputy coach at Converge, Pineda said Muyang’s post was not meant for Phoenix management, but for netizens who have been critical about his decision to play for the Giant Lanterns despite having a live contract with Phoenix.
READ Muyang Facebook post pours gasoline on fiery row with Phoenix
The 50-year-old governor said he’s aware of the huge support extended by the Phoenix organization – especially financial – to the beleaguered player.
“Nagkamali lang po ng intindi ang ibang tao sa naging social media post ni Larry. Hindi po ito patungkol sa Phoenix dahil alam ko po mismo ang sobra-sobrang tulong at pang-unawa na ibinigay ng team sa kanya (Muyang),” Pineda shared to Spin.ph during the Holy Week break.
On Wednesday, Phoenix management shared that it felt offended by the post of Muyang on social media about not minding what other people are saying about him.
“Ang importante masaya ako. At hindi sila ang bumubuhay sa pamilya ko,” part of the post read.
What caught the attention of the Fuel Masters was a repost of Muyang’ status by a certain Camille Istle Leigh Santos, who commented about the 6-foot-6 native of Santa Ana, Pampanga not being given his salary by Phoenix for several months despite having a family along with a two-year-old kid and a six-month baby.
It turned out Leigh Santos is a basketball coach and liason officer of Pampanga's MPBL ballclub.
She has since deleted her post after being chastised by the Giant Lanterns, Pineda said.
“Ni-reprimand na po siya (Leigh Santos) at pinagsabihan na huwag basta-basta magpo-post ng hindi alam ang lahat ng tungkol sa mga nangyayari,” said Pineda.
Again, the Pampanga governor reiterated his apology to Phoenix management for the controversy caused by the social media post, which he repeatedly said was not intended to Muyang’s PBA mother team.
“Hindi po Phoenix ang pinapatungkulan ni Larry sa kanyang post kung hindi po 'yung mga netizens na nangba-bash sa kanya. Hindi magagawa ni Larry yun sa Phoenix na siyang nagbigay ng break sa kanya para matupad ang pangarap niya na makapaglaro sa PBA. Muli po ang aming paumanhin (on Phoenix management),” Pineda added.
READ Pineda explains circumstances that led Muyang to breach PBA contract
Muyang, who won an MPBL championship in 2019 while still part of the San Juan Knights, was the first-round pick (No. 7 overall) by Phoenix in the Season 46 PBA draft.
As things stand now, Muyang remains on an indefinite ban from the PBA for the breach of contract he committed by playing for the Giant Lanters in the MPBL notwithstanding the live contract he has with Phoenix that runs until the end of May.
Muyang already sought a dialogue with league Commissioner Willie Marcial on the issue. The two met with Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia and Pineda, acknowledged as the long-time benefactor of the 29-year-old center.
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