IMPORT Terrence Jones was merely protecting himself and had no intention of hurting Calvin Abueva.
TnT Katropa management insisted Jones was at the receiving end of Abueva's antics for most of the game and was left with no recourse but to protect himself when the incident between him and the Phoenix forward happened midway through the fourth quarter of their PBA Commissioner's Cup encounter at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
"In fairness to Terrence, there was no intention to hurt," said team manager Gabby Cui.
The TnT official pointed out that before all hell broke loose, Abueva bumped Jones hard as the import was trying to position himself in TnT's offensive play.
The push caused Jones to fall to the floor, after which Abueva stared him down.
"He was protecting himself because of what Abueva was doing to him during the entire game," stressed Cui.
Jones ended up being fined P70K after being caught hitting the eccentric Phoenix forward in the groin area while in the process of getting up.
Both times, no calls were made by the referees.
A few plays later, Abueva would deliver one of the most horrible contacts ever seen in PBA history when he came over Jones' blindside and delivered a vicious clothesline that knocked down the former NBA player.
The Phoenix star was automatically ejected from the game, and later fined a total of P70K and suspended indefinitely by the Commissioner's Office.
Cui noted that unlike Jones, Abueva had every intention to hurt the TnT import.
"He (Jones) wanted to protect himself unlike Abueva who was premeditated in his action towards Terrence," said Cui, reminding how Abueva was heard telling table officials during the fourth quarter to 'watch his next move' prior to delivering that dangerous clothesline on the Kentucky University alum.
The Katropa though are moving on from that unfortunate incident as they now focus on their next game against San Miguel Beer this Saturday in Antipolo City.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph