THERE are two sides to every story, and in the case of the near-bench-clearing altercation between the coaches of the University of the Philippines and La Salle, it certainly was the case.
Late in the third quarter of the Green Archers’ 68-56 win over the Fighting Maroons in the first round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, both coaching sides were seen almost charging at each other until cooler heads prevailed.
READ: La Salle takes top spot from UP at end of UAAP Season 87 first round
La Salle assistant coach Gian Nazario played down the altercation after the game, stating that it’s just mere competitiveness between two benches, while clarifying that his involvement was just purely in standing up for his fellow coaches.
Curiously, Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson wasn’t available for the post-game press conference.
“Actually, nagulat na lang akong nagtatayuan na yung coaches, nagtuturuan na sila, so tumayo na rin ako, nakituro na lang ako,” Nazario said in jest.
“But kidding aside, siyempre emotions were really high at that point. I don’t really know honestly what transpired, I’m just there to protect my coaches as well,” he added.
“When everyone was standing up, I wanted to stand up, I wanted to be united with them. Emotions, nadala lang naman tayo lahat e. I think it was pacified well. Yeah, it’s part of the game.”
UP spitting facts
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde, however, recalled a totally different incident.
While Nazario played down the incident as “part of the game,” Monteverde hinted at it being a bit more when asked about what happened at that point in time.
The soft-spoken head coach shared how the incident stemmed out of something that wasn’t part of the game, but stopped expounding from there.
“Whatever yung init na nangyari, hindi tungkol sa basketball e. Kung basketball lang, [okay lang e], being competitive, both sides will give their best,” Monteverde said.
“But siyempre, pangit kasi yung may mga ibang bagay na ginagawa sa loob na walang kaugnayan sa laro e. On our part, yung mga player magre-react din in a way and even yung bench.”
One source detailed that there was a member of the La Salle coaching staff who allegedly spat at Fighting Maroons wing Reyland Torres, prompting a reaction from all of State U.
UP coaches further declined to comment on the issue, while SPIN.ph reached out to Robinson for comments, but the champion coach is yet to reply as of posting time.
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