Fight stops Brgy. Ginebra-GlobalPort tune-up game

Ginebra Kings pre-game warm up (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA, Philippines – The Barangay Ginebra and GlobalPort tune-up game held last Friday was postponed after Terrence Romeo and Emman Monfort got physical during the match.

Reports claimed that Romeo hit Monfort near the Ginebra bench.

“Napikon si Terrence, biglang inundayan ng suntok si Monfort. Muntik nang nag-free for all ‘yung pangyayari. (Terrence got pissed off. He immediately punched Monfort. The game almost ended in a rumble),” one of the witnesses said.

“Lulusob sana yung Kelly Nabong at Carlo Sharma, pero naawat din sila agad. May ilang players din ng Ginebra ang mainit. Buti na lang napigil agad. (Kelly Nabong and Carlo Sharma was also about to join the fight but were held back. Some Ginebra players were fiery. It’s good that [the fight] was kept from escalating),” he added.

To his defense, Romeo asserted that Monfort’s actions provoked him and he was only striking back.

“May pito kasi na hindi daw ibinigay kay Terrence tapos masyadong nasaktan dun sa depensa sa kanya, kaya out of frustration medyo nakabitaw ng suntok. (Seven [points] weren’t given to Terrence and he also got hurt with the defense on him, so out of frustration, he threw a punch),” another witness said.

“Naipit pa nga sa gitna yung dalawang coaches. Kasi isa sila sa mga umawat ng maaga otherwise, baka kung ano pa nangyari. (Two coaches were even caught in between as they were the firsts to stop the fight. Otherwise, something worse could’ve happened),” he added.

Reports also stated that prior the incident, Monfort tripped Romeo which made the latter lose his cool. But as Romeo threw his punch, witnesses were not sure if Monfort hit back.

The coaching staff immediately eased the tension before other players could join the fracas. The game officials were then forced to call off the game, which was just on its first half with Ginebra leading at 38-31.

The Office of the Commissioner was already informed about the melee and Commissioner Chito Salud, along with his technical staff, is set to review the tape early next week. Players involved could be summoned and sanctioned.

“Inabutan lang tayo ng long weekend kaya walang pasok ang opisina, pero by early next week, pagdating ng tape, ire-review na agad iyan ni Com. (He’s not in the office right now because of the long weekend but when Com (Salud) comes back by early next week, he will immediately review the tape),” PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said in an interview.

When asked what the sanctions may be, Marcial said that it depended on Salud’s review.

With report from Cyra Moraleda