Kevin Alas gestures after making a basket. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Describing Game 3 of the 2017 PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel Beer and Barangay Ginebra as heated would be an understatement.
Aside from San Miguel guard Chris Ross and Ginebra head coach Tim Cone engaging in a shouting match along the Smart Araneta Coliseum hallway shortly after the game, Beermen forward Arwind Santos and Gin Kings rookie Kevin Ferrer also went at it on Wednesday night.
“We were just trying to get under each other’s skin,” Santos said in Filipino. “I saw he was focused in the fourth quarter and He was clapping. But I didn’t do anything yet because I was still waiting for the right time to get back at him. It’s all about timing and I got the better of him in the end.”
READ: Beermen pull ahead late to beat Kings, get 2-1 lead
With under a minute left, Santos and Ferrer got testy and with the Beermen already on their way to victory, the veteran made his move and clapped in front of Ferrer’s face.
Santos said he and Ferrer also exchanged a few words which the 2013 PBA MVP didn’t appreciate hearing from the former University of Santo Tomas star.
“He told me not so good things like, ‘You’re already old and yet you still resort to things like that,'” Santos recalled.
READ: Cone livid over Ross’ late-game 3, Austria defends
“So I told him, ‘You’re still young. What have you proven?’ And to me, he’s really hot-headed. He doesn’t want to be given a dose of his own medicine.”
Ferrer has been a vital piece for Ginebra especially in the finals, but Santos is far from impressed.
“He’s not the one who’s leading his team to victory. Our defense isn’t even focused on him. You still have to be ready for him but he’s not the kind of player that you will fear,” he said.
READ: Ginebra played ‘horrible from start to finish,’ admits Cone
“I was a rookie before and if you want to talk about rookies, there’s not a peskier rookie than Calvin,” Santos said, referring to Alaska’s Calvin Abueva. “Calvin is the most annoying rookie for me but he still wasn’t able to get under my skin. What more Kevin?”