Tiu says ‘intentional’ elbow by White like ‘getting punched by Pacquiao’

Rain or Shine guard Chris Tiu reacts after getting elbowed in the face by GlobalPort import Malcolm White during the fourth quarter of their game. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

What has been a physical game between Rain or Shine and GlobalPort intensified after Batang Pier import Malcolm White hit Elasto Painters guard Chris Tiu with a crushing elbow to the face in the fourth quarter.

The 6-foot-9 import clocked Tiu, who is listed at 5-foot-11, at the 6:50 mark of the quarter that paved way to a wild last five minutes.

“It was clearly intentional,” said Tiu after Rain or Shine’s 96-90 win Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “He’s been very rough the entire game, unfortunately, I didn’t see it at all and he got me clean.”

“It’s been the worst, the hardest hit I’ve ever gotten in my basketball career. I lost consciousness for maybe two seconds, it was like getting punched by [Manny] Pacquiao.”

Tiu was initially told to get immediate medical help after the incident but he refused to go to the nearest hospital and instead had trainers look at his wound.

White’s elbow to Tiu’s face, however, was just the beginning.

The two teams once again went at it that resulted to GlobalPort center Kelly Nabong and Rain or Shine guard Maverick Ahanmisi getting ejected with 3:20 left in the game after getting into a shoving match.

GlobalPort guard Ryan Araña was also slapped with a technical foul after he entered the playing court along with former teammate Beau Belga.

Nabong and Ahanmisi’s ejections weren’t the end of the heat, though, as Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan got into the face of White.

Almazan also got tossed in the process with 40.3 seconds left in the game.

Interestingly, it was Tiu, who ended up making the biggest shot of the game.

Tiu hit the dagger of a three that gave the Painters a 92-83 cushion with only 1:14 left. He finished with 10 points, four rebounds and six assists.

“We just have to be focused and the objective is to win the game,” said Tiu whose team sits atop the standings with a 5-1 record. “I think the best way is to win the game, that’s the best revenge we could give them.”