Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
BIÑAN — Meralco coach Norman Black offered little to shed light on the spat between assistant coach Jimmy Alapag and Bolts center Kelly Nabong, but promised he would get to the bottom of the issue and sort things out on Monday.
“I really don’t know the whole story, but I’ll sort it out tomorrow (Monday) and I’ll take care of it. Believe me,” he said.
The incident almost overshadowed Meralco’s 72-66 comeback win over Star to open their 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals series Sunday at Alonte Sports Arena here, where the Bolts fought back from 17-points down early and rallied from a 12 point hole early in the fourth.
Eyewitnesses said Alapag and Nabong had a disagreement on the bench while Meralco was making a furious run in the final three minutes of the game. Alapag was pointing something out to Nabong late in the game, but the bruiser didn’t take one of the veteran guard’s points kindly as the two had to be separated by the Bolts staff.
Alapag would later on join the team’s huddles as Black mapped out his game-winning plays, while Nabong refused to participate and stayed on the far end of the bench.
The Fil-Am center rushed to the locker room after the game and was the first one out of Meralco’s dugout.
Alapag opted to stay mum on the exchange as he excused himself out of the venue together with his pregnant wife LJ Moreno.
Black knows that he needs the two to make amends quickly as the Bolts seek to go up 2-0 against the Hotshots on Tuesday at Sta. Rosa Multipurpose Complex in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.