Team Jordan walks out of tuneup game with Gilas Pilipinas

The second tune-up game in preparation for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers between Team Philippines and Team Jordan ended early as the two head coaches engaged in a heated conversation. (File Photo: Chooks-To-Go Pilipinas/Facebook)

The confrontation started after a Jordanian player threw the ball at Filipino Scottie Thompson, which resulted in a foul. According to head coach Yeng Guiao, “I felt they were getting too rugged on us from the beginning… it’s also my responsibility to keep my players safe. There’s a lot of second motions happening and they are rugged,” also referring to Jordan’s Abu Wazeih pushing Christian Standhardinger to the floor at 7:53 of the first quarter.

He added that Joseph Steibing, head coach of the Jordanians, threatened to fight him, saying, “I don’t want us to be bullied in our own country. They’re bullying us all that way.” He concluded in Filipino, “I feel that they should give us a little bit of respect. We’re not doing anything t them, we’re just playing. But that coach, he acts like a goon.”

Before leaving the Meralco Gym, Coach Joseph also had a few words to say to the media. “If us getting in a fight, I don’t think that would have been a good thing for either team. That’s why we just decided to call the game,” he defended himself, “When an opposing coach curses at your players and calls them names, I think that’s crossing the lines, and I think that’s what got me upset.”

This was the second time Gilas Pilipinas faced the team from Jordan for a tuneup game, the first resulting in a 98-92 for the Filipinos last Monday, November 19. The next time the Filipino representatives will play is against Lebanon on Friday, November 23.