WHAT happened after the final buzzer in the 'Battle of Katipunan' drew nearly as much attention as what happened before it.
Ateneo head coach Louie Alas and the University of the Philippines deputy Christian Luanzon found themselves in a heated post-game exchange after Jacob Bayla punctuated the Fighting Maroons' 82-74 win with a dunk in the dying seconds.
READ: UP re-asserts mastery over Ateneo, reaches eighth straight Final Four
The play added two points to State U's margin with the outcome already settled, prompting Alas to voice his displeasure.
The Blue Eagles, however, were still pressing in the final possession, a detail that shaped UP's view of the sequence.
Nonetheless, Alas said there was an unwritten code in play.
"Emotions, pero may unspoken rule kasi 'yung ganun," he said. "I'm sorry for that, but I just want them to know na huwag mo nang gawin 'yan. Panalo ka na eh. Kung kami, hindi namin gagawin 'yan. Papagalitan ko talaga 'yung player ko."
The ever-fiery mentor acknowledged that he let his emotions take over, but at the same time, questioned Luanzon's reaction during the exchange.
"Ewan ko 'tong si Christian Luanzon kung anong ginagagalit niya, uncalled for daw," he said. "Sabi ko, 'Gawin sa'yo ng kalaban 'yan.'"
"Instead na awatin mo na lang 'yung player mo, na that's wrong, tutulungan pa? That's bad."
UP's Fight
Luanzon saw his role differently.
The Fighting Maroons assistant said he was trying to defuse the situation, stressing his respect for Alas and his close relationship with patriarch Louie and his family.
"It was just an unfortunate incident. It was a heated game at that moment. Actually, I was just trying to pacify him," he said.
"It was loud in the arena. I'm not sure exactly what he said to Jacob. I'm just sorry how things turned out."
Luanzon also defended the play itself, saying Bayla's decision was a natural response to a live possession.
"It's instinct na rin ng players," he said. "Under pressure, sometimes your instincts would take over. At least, that's how I saw it."
Bayla, for his part, offered the simplest explanation, saying he was 'playing till the final buzzer.'
"They were pressing us, so my mind was just playing till the final buzzer," he said. "This is basketball. That's the game. Just played to the final buzzer. We won the game and enough said."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
