La Salle-FEU tuneup ends early as tempers flare

FILE—FEU head coach Nash Racela (left) and La Salle coach Aldin Ayo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

A little less than a month away from the opening of the UAAP Season 79, the rivalry between La Salle and Far Eastern University is slowly heating up.

So hot was the affair at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan that the tuneup game between the two on Thursday was called off just before the end of the third quarter, with the Green Archers leading, 92-75.

FEU coach Nash Racela explained that the two sides halted the preseason game after tempers flared on both sides.

“I just wanted to protect my players para di na rin magkasakitan. Nagkakatirahan na eh,” he told INQUIRER.net.

Racela explained that his side felt slighted by the three quick fouls called on the Tamaraws to start the third period. “Tabla yung game at 54-all at halftime, tapos 9:44 pa lang ng third, penalty na kami. That was when I decided to pull my starters out and put in the players at the end of the bench. Doon na lumaki yung lamang nila,” he said.

Opting to keep its key players on the floor, La Salle further padded the lead but that still couldn’t keep Ben Mbala from having a verbal skirmish with Racela, with the Cameroonian big man crying foul with what he felt was hard hits on him.

“Doon na rin nag-agree yung officials to end the tuneup game,” he said. “Ang akin naman, I told my players na wag na rin patulan.”

Despite the premature end to the affair, Racela said that FEU got what it wanted, which was to give La Salle a message that the defending UAAP champions won’t flinch from the Green Archers who are already regarded as the early favorites to win it all this year.

“We don’t want La Salle to feel confident going to this season. We wanted to show that we won’t back down,” he said.

INQUIRER sought comments from La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, but is still unavailable as of posting.