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    Varilla says Qualls stepped on him on purpose, accuses Stan of flopping

    Varilla says Qualls started fight by stepping on him on purpose
    Nov 25, 2019

    POY Erram and Paul Varilla are facing the prospects of missing the knockout match of NLEX against NorthPort after getting thrown out of the two teams' PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinal on Monday night.

    Erram and Varilla were ejected at the 4:54 mark of the ballgame after hitting NorthPort import Michael Qualls during a scuffle under the Batang Pier's goal. Both were slapped with a flagrant foul penalty two for an automatic ejection.

    The incident began when Qualls - intentional or not - stepped on Varilla after attempting a layup. Erram later was seen hitting Qualls at the back of the head with an elbow while Varilla also sneaked in a hit before cooler heads prevailed.

    Top seed NLEX lost the match, 115-90, allowing NorthPort to force a do-or-die game for the semifinals spot on Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

    Varilla claimed it was Qualls who started it all.

    “He started it first on the court. I was trying for an offensive rebound and I became physical with him, calling me names. I wanted to make my stand. This is the playoffs. I’m not going to back down from him,” said Varilla.

    “On the last play, he attacked the basket. I was trying to get a charge so I fell down. What I felt, he stepped on me on purpose because we are going back at it from earlier on. So I thought he had stepped on me intentionally. In return, I did what I did,” said Varilla.

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    Varilla also denied he pushed Christian Standhardinger after the NorthPort big man fell down when players were trying to break the two up.

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    “I didn’t push him. I don’t think I touched Christian there. I think he flopped like he usually does,” said Varilla.

    Varilla hopes the incident will not affect his status for the knockout match.

    “I hope not. Just have to wait to find out,” said Varilla.

    Erram declined to speak with reporters after the game.

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