NU Bulldogs. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Far Eastern University men’s volleyball team was apologetic after assistant coach Eddieson Orcullo “unintentionally” used a racial slur to describe National University middle blocker Obed Mukaba during a timeout of their UAAP Season 85 match on Sunday at Philsports Arena.
A clip of the incident, which happened late in the third set with NU at match point, 24-23, went viral online that shows coach Rei Diaz asking his player, who was blocking his attack. Then a member of the Tamaraws was heard, saying the racist remark.
Orcullo, who is part of Diaz’s coaching staff, admitted he was the one who said it and already apologized to NU coach Dante Alinsunurin and his assistant Dong Dela Cruz.
“Right after nung nalaman ko yung nagawa kong mali, tinawagan ko kaagad sina coach Dante and coach Dong para humingi ng sorry lalo na dun sa bata,” Orcullo told reporters. “Hindi nila kasama noon yung bata kaya sabi nila sila na lang kakausap.”
(Right after I learned that I said something wrong, I called coach Dante and coach Dong to apologize to the player. They weren’t with the player when I was talking to them but they said that they will talk to him.)
Orcullo added he didn’t mean to say a racial slur on the Congolese middle blocker and got carried away by his emotions.
The longtime Tamaraws assistant coach assured that he will personally apologize to Mukaba.
“That was unintentional. I got carried away by my emotions during the game. Again, I apologize for what happened. I will approach Obed when we both have games so I can say my sorry personally,” he said in Filipino.
FEU men’s volleyball team manager Obet Cruz posted a statement with regard to the matter.
“It is with a humble heart that Coach Edd together with the entire FEU MVT apologize to Obed Mukaba for the term used to refer to him in one of the huddles in today’s game. Coach Edd has already personally called Coach Dante and Coach Dong of NU MVT to apologize,” Cruz tweeted. “He will also personally reach out to Obed to apologize. He is currently finding a way to reach Obed. No excuses it is a mistake. Please forgive all of us. We learn from this incident.”
Alinsunurin admitted that Mukaba was a bit hurt when he learned about the controversial huddle but he explained that Orcullo has apologized.
“Okay naman sa kanya, medyo nasaktan siya ipinaliwag ko naman sa kanya kaya natanggap naman niya paliwanag ko,” said Alinsunurin.
(He is now okay. But he was a bit hurt. I already explained to him and he already accepted my explanation.)
The four-time UAAP champion coach said all is well now between his team and FEU after they apologized.
“We already talked to the coaching staff of FEU. He apologized for what he said,” he said in Filipino.
NU clinched a twice-to-beat advantage after sending FEU to its third straight defeat, 28-26, 25-21, 26-28, 25-23, to stay unbeaten in 11 games.