(CNN Philippines) — It has been a physical series for the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the ongoing Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup finals.
But worse turned to worst Wednesday (April 22) as a brawl ensued early in the fourth quarter of Game 4, resulting in the ejection of Rain or Shine’s Jireh Ibanes and JR Quinahan, and Talk ‘N Text rookie Matt Ganuelas-Rosser.
Ibanes and Ganuelas-Rosser were jockeying for a position at the 9:47 mark of the fourth period. Ibanes pulled Ganuelas-Rosser’s jersey, while the rookie pushed the former out of the railing to break free. After the shoving match, Quinahan threw the basketball right on the face of Ganuelas-Rosser to spark the bench-clearing scuffle.
Talk ‘N Text eventually won the fight-marred Game 4 to even the series at 2-2, making it a virtual best-of-three affair.
Related: Talk ’N Text evens series with win over Rain or Shine in fight-marred Game 4
For Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, the game officials have lost control of the best-of-seven series where altercations and verbal tussles have been a common sight on and off the court.
“That’s also one reason why there are flare-ups in the game. The referees need to control the game. Hindi na na-control yung physicality kaya ganun talaga mangyayari,” said the outspoken mentor.
“Is this how we want to sell the game? Ganun ba natin ibebenta sa mga tao yung laro?”
The frustrated coach also claimed the referees let Talk ‘N Text import Ivan Johnson, who got into altercations with a lot of players and even coaches, get away with his antics.
“In Game 3 yung import nila charged into Paul (Lee) and it was not called a charging. The next time he did it on Paul may kasama ng siko, the reason why he broke his teeth,” he said. “If they had only called the foul the first time he barged into Paul, which is a real foul, hindi na siguro nangyari yun kay Paul.”
Related: Lee loses tooth, but E-Painters go on to take 109-97 win vs Talk ‘N Text
Unfortunately, the league hasn’t done anything about it, said the fiery mentor.
“That’s been the story e. Bago niya ako binangga, binangga niya si Gabe (Norwood) at si Raymond (Almazan). The refs let him go so lumakas loob niya pati coach binangga,” he said.
“The last game hinabol niya si Ryan (Arana) after the game and I don’t see the league do anything about it. I mean why ignore that or turned your head to those things? Ano ginagawa ng liga dun? Every game na lang. Puputok at puputok talaga tignan mo nga nangyari kanina.”
Fierce as ever, Guiao said his team is not backing down and he won’t keep them holstered as Rain or Shine tries to win its second championship.
“No we’re not backing down. Were just trying to focus on the game,” he said.
Game 5 is on Friday (April 24) also at the Big Dome.
