Guiao apologizes for “mongoloid” slur but not to Hodge

Yeng Guiao

MANILA, Philippines — Fiery Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao apologized Saturday for the derogatory term he used against Meralco’s Cliff Hodge last Wednesday in Game 2.

But Guiao made it clear that his apology “doesn’t extend” to Hodge himself.

“First of all, I’m taking the opportunity to apologize to all who might have been offended for the term I used on Cliff Hodge,” said Guiao moments after the Elasto Painters entered the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals after a thrilling 97-96 win over the Meralco Bolts.

“So I had meant no harm on the people affected or offended but my apology does not extend to Cliff Hodge so if if there’s another appropriate term that I could call Cliff Hodge I will gladly call him that.”

Guiao was hit with a P100,000 fine Friday by the PBA Office after being summoned by league commissioner Chito Salud last Wednesday.

Hodge was also slapped with a P20,000 fine for throwing a punch at Rain or Shine rookie Raymond Almazan’s face late in Game 2.

After Game 3, it appears the side story that involves the two goes on following another incident involving Hodge and Rain or Shine swingman Jeff Chan.

“He put another elbow into Jeff Chan’s face. I don’t think he can stop himself,” Guiao claimed.

“It’s also his style to use himself as a human projectile throwing himself at players pretending to go after the ball and he’s hurt a lot of people doing that, so my apologies to all those who’ve been offended as I said again my apologies don’t extend to Cliff Hodge. He’s a danger to this league,” added Guiao.

The sophomore forward Hodge though, said he was “going for the ball.”

“The game is physical. Everyone’s getting hit. You can’t blame me for trying to get the ball for my team,” the rugged Hodge, who finished with five points, six rebounds and two steals, said.

As for Guiao’s comments against him, Hodge said it “doesn’t really affect me.”

“It’s cool. I’m glad he apologized to all the people that are unfortunate to be with a down syndrome. I didn’t even know what it was but when I found out I was kind of shocked that he would say something to a player,” Hodge said, upon knowing Guiao made an apology for his “mongoloid” reference during his post-game interview.

“If he’s going to act like that, he’ll act like that. It doesn’t really affect me, it’s not going to make me sleep less at night. It doesn’t even bother me what other people say about me,” added Hodge on Guiao not extending his apology to him.

Despite drawing flak as of late, Hodge said he has no plans of changing his style of play.

“I’ll keep playing the way I play, it’s not going to affect the way I play or whatever everyone has to say about me. This is the way I play man, either you hate it or you love it. It’s basketball, you’re either going to play or not gonna play.”

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