TOP game turns into ugly fracas

MANILA, Philippines - What was expected to be a relaxed game turned out to be a bloody one as the game between Misamis Oriental and M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala was halted because of a near riot in the eighth leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP) Wednesday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro.

With the host way ahead, 66-44, and with only 28 ticks left, a skirmish broke out after Meteors forward Ronald Lamocha, in retaliation, swung at Cebu center Nat Cruz while they were heading to Meteors’ court.

Cruz chased Lamocha who ran to the Meteors bench and engaged him in a fistfight that also saw Cebu’s Hafer Mondragon and Misamis Oriental’s Kris Lucernas joining the fray.

The scene turned uglier when Meteors reserve player Wellan Munos, who was in street clothes, also punched Cruz while some home fans started throwing mineral water at the Cebu players.

When the smoke finally cleared – thanks to the intervention of technical director Perry Martinez – Cruz was brought to a nearby hospital to treat cuts in his nape and a swollen eye.

The game was not finished as Cebu coach Raul Alcoseba conceded the game to the Meteors to protect his players from further harm.

Cebu has threatened not to show up for the finals game (Thursday) but Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno gave his assurance that it would not happen again.

Lamocha elbowed Cruz after he was hit twice in the head in a rebound scramble earlier.