Chickening out
August 5, 2001 | 12:00am
The road to glory could come to an end for Purefoods and Alaska in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioners Cup at the Araneta Coliseum tonight.
Out to shut the door are Red Bull and San Miguel Beer, both enjoying what is in effect a twice-to-beat advantage entering Game 4 in separate best-of-5 semifinal series. Unless something short of a miracle happens, it looks like the Thunder and Beermen are headed for the Finals.
Unfortunately, last Fridays twinbill had some regrettable moments. Sure, a Game 3 in a best-of-5 series thats tied at 1-all is pivotal and players will fight to the bitter end to win. But theres a limit to what one can do in the excuse of playing physical. Hooliganism has no place on the court. Playing defense doesnt mean you have to hurt somebody to throw him off his game.
In Game 3 of the San Miguel-Alaska series, Freddie Abuda was bloodied during a loose ball scramble with Sean Chambers. I couldnt be sure if Abuda got a busted lip or a bloodied nose. Whatever, blood was spilled as he grappled with Chambers for the leather on the floor. Courtside fans swore Chambers deliberately planted an elbow on Abudas throat as they scuffled. I didnt see it myself. There were too many bodies that blocked my view from where I stood in the corridor leading to the floor. The referees apparently saw it Chambers was slapped a technical.
Now, lets put things in perspective. Seans not a bad guy. He wouldnt have lasted 13 years in the PBA if he had a reputation as a goon. Basketball is an emotional game. Sometimes, you do things in the spur of the moment sometimes, your intensity gets the better of you. Thats what happened to Sean. He got a technical for it and Im sure hell be the first to tell you he deserved it. I dont think the elbow on Abuda was premeditated. Seans not that kind of guy.
Sean had a horrible night Friday. He shot only two points at the half from free throws and finished with six, his lowest output ever since lacing up for Alaska in 1989. In the Third Conference last year, Chambers single-game low was 11 points. And in the previous year, it was 10. Back in 1991, Chambers season-low was 33 points. So you can imagine Chambers frustration and Abuda had a lot to do with his misery.
Players are human. Theyre bound to make mistakes.
Still, the scuffle that led to spilled blood was something you wouldnt like to see in a game.
In the Red Bull-Purefoods thriller that same night, I was shocked at the way the referees let Junthy Valenzuela get away with just a deliberate foul after clotheslining David Wood on a breakaway. Valenzuela is only 22 and a budding star. But if he thinks he can get away with a slight rap on the wrist for a flagrant foul, the referees are doing him an injustice. How can he learn from his mistake if hes not taught the hard way?
It wasnt a light hit. Wood fell on his back and suffered a bloody nose. The sad thing about it, Valenzuela didnt bother to apologize. Valenzuela didnt go for the ball he went for the man. The referees chickened out by not calling a flagrant.
Earlier, Lordy Tugade flailed at Noy Castillo in a bruising play. Surprisingly, the referees didnt call a technical for the second motion. If they had called it, maybe Valenzuela wouldve had second thoughts before roughing up Wood. Thats how important a referees call is in keeping a game under control. A missed call can make a big difference.
The referees also missed a call when Andy Seigle put a hand on Antonio Langs face after banging bodies under the basket. Seigle deserved at least a technical for it. Hed gotten a technical earlier so he wouldve been ejected on a second offense. Luckily, things didnt get out of hand because of the missed calls.
Its not fair to label the Thunder as the Red Bullies. Its not fair to coach Yeng Guiao whos done a masterful job in transforming the Thunder into a cohesive unit that plays to its strengths. Red Bull has what it takes to go all the way to the Finals without resorting to rough stuff. The team has all the tools firepower, youth, experience, depth, size, and desire.
If last Fridays games were hard-fought, imagine how tonights games will be. Purefoods and Alaska are in a do-or-die situation.
Before the first tap in both games tonight, I suggest the referees summon the opposing coaches and team captains on the court for all to see. The referees should make it crystal clear that theyll call it tight, that they wont tolerate dirty play, and that they wont hesitate to eject anyone who deserves it.
Let the fans and the players know that the referees mean business that they wont chicken out again.
Out to shut the door are Red Bull and San Miguel Beer, both enjoying what is in effect a twice-to-beat advantage entering Game 4 in separate best-of-5 semifinal series. Unless something short of a miracle happens, it looks like the Thunder and Beermen are headed for the Finals.
Unfortunately, last Fridays twinbill had some regrettable moments. Sure, a Game 3 in a best-of-5 series thats tied at 1-all is pivotal and players will fight to the bitter end to win. But theres a limit to what one can do in the excuse of playing physical. Hooliganism has no place on the court. Playing defense doesnt mean you have to hurt somebody to throw him off his game.
In Game 3 of the San Miguel-Alaska series, Freddie Abuda was bloodied during a loose ball scramble with Sean Chambers. I couldnt be sure if Abuda got a busted lip or a bloodied nose. Whatever, blood was spilled as he grappled with Chambers for the leather on the floor. Courtside fans swore Chambers deliberately planted an elbow on Abudas throat as they scuffled. I didnt see it myself. There were too many bodies that blocked my view from where I stood in the corridor leading to the floor. The referees apparently saw it Chambers was slapped a technical.
Now, lets put things in perspective. Seans not a bad guy. He wouldnt have lasted 13 years in the PBA if he had a reputation as a goon. Basketball is an emotional game. Sometimes, you do things in the spur of the moment sometimes, your intensity gets the better of you. Thats what happened to Sean. He got a technical for it and Im sure hell be the first to tell you he deserved it. I dont think the elbow on Abuda was premeditated. Seans not that kind of guy.
Sean had a horrible night Friday. He shot only two points at the half from free throws and finished with six, his lowest output ever since lacing up for Alaska in 1989. In the Third Conference last year, Chambers single-game low was 11 points. And in the previous year, it was 10. Back in 1991, Chambers season-low was 33 points. So you can imagine Chambers frustration and Abuda had a lot to do with his misery.
Players are human. Theyre bound to make mistakes.
Still, the scuffle that led to spilled blood was something you wouldnt like to see in a game.
It wasnt a light hit. Wood fell on his back and suffered a bloody nose. The sad thing about it, Valenzuela didnt bother to apologize. Valenzuela didnt go for the ball he went for the man. The referees chickened out by not calling a flagrant.
Earlier, Lordy Tugade flailed at Noy Castillo in a bruising play. Surprisingly, the referees didnt call a technical for the second motion. If they had called it, maybe Valenzuela wouldve had second thoughts before roughing up Wood. Thats how important a referees call is in keeping a game under control. A missed call can make a big difference.
The referees also missed a call when Andy Seigle put a hand on Antonio Langs face after banging bodies under the basket. Seigle deserved at least a technical for it. Hed gotten a technical earlier so he wouldve been ejected on a second offense. Luckily, things didnt get out of hand because of the missed calls.
If last Fridays games were hard-fought, imagine how tonights games will be. Purefoods and Alaska are in a do-or-die situation.
Before the first tap in both games tonight, I suggest the referees summon the opposing coaches and team captains on the court for all to see. The referees should make it crystal clear that theyll call it tight, that they wont tolerate dirty play, and that they wont hesitate to eject anyone who deserves it.
Let the fans and the players know that the referees mean business that they wont chicken out again.
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