La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo.
Far Eastern University started it.
That’s what La Salle coach Aldin Ayo said that happened after a tune up game between the Green Archers and Tamaraws on Thursday was halted before the end of the third quarter.
“Sila yung nanguna eh,” said Ayo, airing his side on the incident. “Kung titingnan mo yung starting five nila, alam ko na mananakit ang mga ito.”
The first-year Green Archers coach cried foul over how Tamaraws defended his prized big man Ben Mbala, saying that FEU’s game plan was to “hurt” his players.
READ: La Salle-FEU tuneup ends early as tempers flare
He also took exception to the verbal tussle between the Cameroonian big man and FEU head coach Nash Racela.
“Hindi naman nagsusumbong si Ben at yung mga bata. Kaya lang coach ka tapos nakikipag-trash talk ka sa mga players ng opposing team? Sa tingin ko hindi tama yun,” he said. “Hindi ako nagsasalita kahit gaano kasama yung ginagawa sa mga players ko. Hindi ako dumidirekta sa mga players ng mga kalaban namin. Yung players ng kalaban namin, under the responsibility ng oppossing coach yun. Yung kahapon, malinaw na malinaw yun. Yung gameplan nila ay saktan at i-provoke yung mga bata ko. Kahit kayo siguro na nakita nyo yun. Hindi naman kami mauuna. Sabi ko na lang sa mga bata na always protect yourself and make sure na naka-focus kayo. Absorb na lang yung mga bibigay sa inyo. Kaya lang tao rin naman sila, pag sobra-sobra na at bastusan na, hindi mo rin mapipigilan makapag-react.”
In an earlier interview, Racela said that the game was stopped to prevent the tension from escalating.
“I just wanted to protect my players para di na rin magkasakitan. Nagkakatirahan na eh,” he told INQUIRER.net.
Ayo, meanwhile, said that even the Tamraws coaching staff had a hand in provoking the Green Archers.
“Lahat yun. Siguro yun ang objective nila, na galitin kami or i-provoke yung mga bata para siguro pag dating ng UAAP, matakot kami. Pero hindi naman mangyayari yun kasi lagi ko naman sinasabi sa mga bata na i-absorb na lang nila,” he said.
Ayo noted a few moments which stood out where he felt FEU went out of the line, including what he says is a punch from Monbert Arong directed at La Salle star Jeron Teng.
“Sila na nag-umpisa tapos sila yung napikon. Sinutok ni (Monbert) Arong si Jeron (Teng), tapos right then, nag-fighting stance sya. Yung flying kick din ni (Raymar) Jose kay Ben. Tapos sila pa yung sumugod sa bench namin, si (assistant coach) Eric Gonzales, si Nash Racela, buong coaching staff nila pati yung mga players. Although mineet namin sila sa gitna, sila yung unang lumapit sa amin,” he said.
“Actually, halos lahat ng players ko nasaktan at yung mga players ko hindi rin naman aatras. Hindi naman gagawa ang mga ito ng ano-ano. Ang gagawin lang nila ay protektahan yung sarili nila at kahit naman ano ang mangyari, maglalaro pa rin sila ng basketball.”
According to Ayo, FEU has yet to reach out to their side.
“Wala pa nga eh. Baka pikon pa sa amin yung mga yun. Hindi kami kinakausap. Sila ang nanakit tapos sila pa yung nagsusumbong kila boss,” he said, pertaining to the La Salle management.
The former NCAA champion coach, though, made it clear that he’s willing to put everything behind, not wanting to drag the issue out.
“Sa akin, walang problema. Hindi naman kami nagalit. Kami yung side na binubugbog and we just protected ourselves,” he said. “In the process, sila yung napikon. As much as possible, gusto kong maayos. Ayaw naman natin ng ganitong sitwasyon.”