Phoenix assistant coach Nic Belasco being pacified after an incident with Shawn Taggart. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
A scuffle ensued following Rain or Shine’s comeback win over Phoenix involving Elasto Painters import Shawn Taggart and Fuel Masters deputy Nic Belasco.
As members from both teams were heading towards their respective dugouts at Araneta Coliseum, Belasco and Taggart traded barbs and the exchange escalated quickly.
Belasco shoved Taggart in the face and the American reinforcement retaliated by hitting the former PBA veteran back in the face.
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The scene was eventually contained with Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood restraining Belasco and Phoenix team manager Paolo Bugia pulling him away from Taggart.
Belasco was quick to regret his actions when he spoke to the media.
He also said the game got really competitive and the emotions got the better of him.
“It was a really competitive basketball game, so there’s a lot of competition, tempers flaring, and you know, it was a man’s game,” Belasco said.
“Rain or Shine outplayed us and things happened. It’s unfortunate. I apologize for being part of that. I don’t want to do anything bad to hurt the league or Phoenix or Rain or Shine. That’s the only thing I really regret about – shedding bad light on the PBA.”
“I’m not going to put blame on anybody. They came back and won a really competitive game. We were up by seventeen, so everything that happened after the game, it’s on video. Everyone can make their own opinions about it, but I’m not going to blame anyone.”