YENG Guiao denounced Rondae Hollis-Jefferson for approaching the Rain or Shine bench in the heat of the PBA Commissioner's Cup game against TNT on Friday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Guiao said the move was a total disrespect to his team.
"We were surprised he was [there] behind our bench. Nagulat na lang kami, bakit siya nandun?" said the Rain or Shine veteran coach following the team's emotional 119-112 win over TNT.
READ Guiao-RHJ sideline spat mars Rain or Shine's fifth straight win
"That's totally disrespectful. Nobody does that, approaching the bench of the other team."
Hollis-Jefferson apparently didn’t like a technical foul (resentment to a call) given by the referee to his brother and replacement, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, in the final 49 seconds that led to three free throws by Rain or Shine as the TNT import was also called a regular foul against Demetrius Treadwell.
The three free throws gave the Elasto Painters a 115-106 lead.
Then came the commotion as Rondae Hollis-Jefferson tried to approach the game official that led him all the way to the bench of the Elasto Painters.
Guiao and the rest of the team obviously felt threatened with the presence of the former NBA player behind their bench that a nasty exchange of words soon followed.
"That’s our area,” said Guiao of the verbal altercation. “And not just behind our bench, we have staff behind our bench. That’s a dangerous thing to pull. And hindi ko alam kung ano nangyari sa kanya. Kung tinopak yung g$%#@. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginagawa nun.”
He added, “I don’t know if I’ve seen that in my 33 years of coaching in the PBA. In the heat of the game, somebody just goes behind the bench.”
The endgame commotion tmarred what had been a competitive game between two teams fighting it out for a playoffs berth, according to Guiao.
“Maayos naman yung laro. Actually, it’s a beautiful game. It’s a nice game. I think the fans would love a game like that.
“So maybe he just got emotional or frustrated. But you don’t take it out that way.”
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