Ni Ernest Hernandez

DALAWANG sunod na panalo at tulad ng inaasahan, naka-abante na ang San Miguel Beermen sa Talk ‘N Text Katropa, 2-1, sa kanilang best-of-seven title series para sa 2017 OPPO-PBA Commissioners Cup.

Maaksiyon ang duwelo at mataas ang pressure sa magkabilang panig kaya’t hindi nakapagtataka na mauwi sa bangayan at banggaan ang ilang kaganapan.

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Sa pagkakataong ito, sina SMB guard Chris Ross at TnT’s Ryan Reyes ang nagkasalubong at nagpalitan ng patutsada at tulakan.

“I didn’t think it was a basketball play and he said it was. That was it. Nothing more, nothing less,” sambit ni Ross, patungkol sa komprontasyon nila ni Reyes.

“You know, it is just at the heat of the game,” pahayag naman ni Reyes. “Boxing out and all that stuff. Just got physical in there. It is part of the game. Things happen. He thought it was physical and all that stuff.”

Mas tumaas ang init sa Araneta Coliseum nang makihalo sa balitaktakan kay Ross sina TNT replacement import Mike Myers at Michael Craig – napipintong import ng KaTropa sa Governors Cup.

“I guess those guys keep talking to me. I don’t know why,” sambit ni Ross. “The guy (Michael Craig) told me he was playing next conference.”

“I said, ‘Man, I am not worried about next conference. I’m worried at the game right now’. If that is what he wants to do is talk, he will have his time to back it up,” aniya.

Kapwa nakaupo malapit sa bench ng Katropa ang dalawang import na kaagad namang pinaalis ng referee. Ngunit, imbes na lumayas, lumiptat lamang ito ng upuan sa likurang bahagi ng bench ng TNT.

“I am just cheering my team,” pahayag ni Myers.

“There was no bad blood. It is just competing. That’s all. It is a competitive game. We were just talking back and forth about the game. It was nothing serious.”

Isinantabi naman ni Ross ang insidente, ngunit iginiit niyang hindi siya nag-aalala na makakaharap niya si Craig sa susunod na Govenor’s Cup.

“I heard he (Craig) is really a good player, I hope he is,” sarkastikong pahayag ni Ross. “If he is, it is better for our league. It was nothing crazy but I’m focused on winning games here in the finals and not worried about next conference right now.”

Sa papainit na tagpo ng serye, mas nangigigil si Myers na makalaro – posible sa Game 4 para sa kanyang pormal na debut sa PBA.

“I am really excited right now,” pahayag ni Myers.

“I want to play so bad. I’m very excited but I am just waiting for my time to come but when that comes, I’m ready.”