Pido Jarencio says Phoenix import hurled expletives at him first

MANILA, Philippines—NorthPort head coach Pido Jarencio said Phoenix import Richard Howell hurled expletives at him leading the scuffle late in the Batang Pier’s loss in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Wednesday night.

With 8:44 left in the game, Jarencio said he was calling a play for big man Moala Tautuaa when Howell shouted profanities at him out of nowhere.

“I was telling Mo something then he [Howell] cursed at me,” said Jarencio after NorthPort bowed to Phoenix, 97-87. “Kevin [Ferrer] heard that so I approached Howell and told him ‘why are you cursing me?”’”

Jarencio and assistant coach Rensy Bajar were both given technical fouls for their involvement in the altercation.

“Kevin told me ‘coach he’s cursing at you’ and that’s why we reacted that way.”

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That wasn’t the only reason for Jarencio’s sour mood as the Batang Pier’s four-game winning streak got snapped, no thanks to their lackadaisical play.

“My players were totally relaxed, too relaxed even,” said Jarencio. “We didn’t have energy, no execution, and our defense was soft.”

“You can’t just pick up the pace in the last two or three minutes, you should be playing well from the start.”

NorthPort had a good start even taking a 22-12 lead in the first quarter but lagged for the remainder of the game, even allowing the Fuel Masters to take a 15-point lead, 81-66, after Matthew Wright’s three-pointer midway through the period.

The loss sent the Batang Pier to a 7-2 record at the second seed, while the Fuel Masters improved to 3-4 to move to the ninth spot.

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