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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
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06
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2024
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SERVICES
THE INQUIRER COMPANY
05
06
2024
The rough-and-tumble PBA Commissioner’s Cup finale between Talk n Text and Rain or Shine resumes Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the appropriate warning from the Commissioner’s Office already made.
The Tropang Texters and the Elasto Painters dispute the pivotal 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series in the presence of a larger security detail following the tumultuous Game Four that saw a near free for all and the ejection from the game of TNT rookie Matt Rosser and ROS’ players Jireh Ibañes and JR Quiñahan.
The three were fined P40,000 each for their flagrant infractions. Quiñahan was assessed an extra fine of P10,000 on top of a game suspension for a fighting stance against Talk n Text import Ivan Johnson.
The Elasto Painters will be without two players if Jeff Chan continues to be bothered by his foot injury.
Talk n Text coach Jong Uichico, however, believes the series – down to a best-of-three – boils down on who can execute amidst the extra ruggedness of the series.
“It’s not physical. It’s not intense. It’s rough basketball,” said Uichico.
In all his years in basketball, Uichico said this is the roughest series he’s ever got into.
Commissioner Chito Salud, however, has cautioned all concerned individuals.
“(The Commissioner’s Office) notes the propensity of players from both teams to engage in unnecessary off-the-ball grappling/jostling, extra motions and trash talking,” said Salud.
“These non-basketball moves and actuations will be called. As we remind both teams that the responsibility of playing the game on its merits ultimately rests on them, the game officials have been directed to take the appropriate measures to prevent the recurrence of these incidents,” Salud added.
With league supremacy at stake, it’s a given that the contending teams will give it all. It’s really up to the refs what will they allow.
“It’s not a question of backing down. Neither team will back down. It’s about what kind of game the league wants to sell,” said ROS coach Yeng Guiao.
He felt Ivan Johnson has got away with some many things, with his attention not being called.
“In Game Three, Johnson charged into Paul and it wasn’t called a charging foul. The next time he did it on Paul, may kasama nang siko, and that’s the reason why Paul broke his teeth. Had they called the foul the first time he barged into Paul, di na sana nangyari yung pangalawa,” said Guiao.
“That’s been the story. He bumped Gabe (Norwood). He bumped Raymond (Almazan). But the refs just let it go, so lumakas ang loob, pati coach binangga,” added Guiao, thrown to their bench on a hard contact from Johnson in Game Two.
But despite all these, the two teams insist they’re ready to play.
“We just tied the series. We live to fight another day. We’ll be back on Friday and Sunday,” said Uichico.
“It’s a nice series and I don’t want it to turn to an ugly series,” said Guiao. (SB)
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