CHANGSHA – At the mess hall in the teams’ hotel hours after the Gilas-Kuwait match, tension was still palpable in the aftermath of the ugly incident between Ranidel de Ocampo and Kuwaiti player Abdulaziz Alhamidi.
The Kuwaiti player couldn’t be appeased with the busted lips suffered on a back swing by De Ocampo in the waning seconds of the match Friday night.
“Tell your teammate to better watch out,” Alhamidi was overheard by a Gilas official as telling Gilas team captain Dondon Hontiveros.
To which Hontiveros answered: “Don’t worry. My teammate can handle that.”
The incident has actually further cemented the bonding of the Gilas players.
“In our huddle at midcourt (after the game), Dray (Blatche) said we should all be together at breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said De Ocampo.
Blatche obviously wanted De Ocampo protected on possible attack by the Kuwaitis.
Even Iranian players warned Gilas to be careful of the Kuwaitis.
De Ocampo said he just stood up for his teammates in hitting the rugged Kuwaiti player.
“Sinaktan nya halos lahat ng kakampi ko. At endgame, he hit me between the legs. Eh, sobra na yon,” said De Ocampo.