Sidelights: Comic relief from ‘Bossing’

MANILA, Philippines - At courtside providing Gilas Pilipinas some push in a tight game versus Hong Kong Wednesday was comedian/TV host Vic Sotto.

“Bossing,” as everybody loves to call him, did a funny antic that calmed a bit the crowd and even the national team in a tense moment.

Sotto, who was with rumored girlfriend Pauleen Luna and brother Maru, was thrust into the spotlight after an errant pass by Hong Kong center Duncan Reid headed to their side.

Sotto grabbed the ball and posed in act of shooting, eliciting laughs and cheers from the crowd.

“Natawa rin kami sa bench at nakabawas tension,” said Marc Pingris, son-in-law of Sotto.

The Sottos know their basketball with Maru having played college basketball with San Beda.

The zany trio Tito, Vic and Joey themselves also used to play exhibition games with their Eat Bulaga! Team.

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Everybody did expect a sure win by Gilas Pilipinas against Hong Kong.

But distributing quarterfinals pairing and schedule ahead of the Gilas-Hong Kong match certainly was a foul move.

International media covering the event, including those from China, received their copies.

They must felt uneasiness among Filipinos in the media room with Hong Kong fighting Gilas Pilipinas tooth and nail through the first three quarters.