Talk ‘N Text import Richard Howell and Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao claimed Talk ‘N Text import Richard Howell called him a “bitch” in the waning seconds of the Tropang Texters’ win in Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals series Monday night.
“He called me a bitch,” said Guiao. “And the refs heard it and they did not do anything and that’s supposed to be a profane language; kapag ako profane language (technical foul) agad yun (if that was me, that had been already a profane language). Again the refs should do their job.”
Guiao and Howell got into a heated incident in the final 17 seconds of the game after the former North Carolina State star, who was heading to his team’s bench, bumped into the fiery mentor near the center line after a timeout was called.
“I dont know what Howell’s problem is; I guess he’s just having a bad game—he got blocked five times, may be he was trying to take it out on me,” said Guiao, who resented a crucial non-call by the referees on an out of bounds play late.
“I was raising my hand and he walked through me and then he came back at me I don’t know what his problem was,” Guiao also said, both his arms raised as he explained his side to reporters. “Because he came to me, I just held my ground. That’s why napaganon kamay ko kasi siya dumaan sa kamay ko andun na ako (my hand hit him because I was already there).”
“So I don’t know. He was the one who came through me. I was already there, he came walking and he came to my space and then he went after me again. I know why the refs don’t call any technical fouls on that, not even a warning,” Guiao added.
The six-foot-eight Howell denied Guiao’s accusation saying, “I never cursed at him” and that it was even Guiao who said something to him.
“I was walking by, he said something, he said a few things. I never cursed at him. I never said anything to start it. I feel like he started the argument,” Howell, who finished 14 points and 22 rebounds, said.
“Just a misunderstanding. It was some word going back and forth between me and the coach. He just said some things that he probably shouldn’t say and it was just a little argument,” added Howell.
Guiao also said Howell called him a “bitch” the next possession after the bump and right before Black decided to pull out his import out to prevent further altercation, with the Texters already up by six, 91-85.
Howell needed to be restrained at the heat of the situation but he was already calm when he spoke with reporters.
After losing his cool, Howell admitted that he needs to be more focused the rest of the way.
“That’s something I need to work on for myself. That’s a self-improvement I need to still stay mentally strong and learn how to keep the bad stuff away and just keep playing basketball.”