Scribes who follow the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) games say it was not the first time an incident like this happened.
It wasn’t the first time Southwestern University coach Yayoy Alcoseba has hit his own player in court right in front of hundreds of spectators.
In all likelihood, the incident could also have been shown on national television.
Eyewitnesses said it happened during the SWU-San Beda game at The Arena in San Juan.
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“The score was 72-73, in favor of San Beda,” a scribe recounted. “Time left was eight seconds after a Red Lion flubbed a long shot.”
“SWU got the rebound then Joseph Nalos brought it down past the midcourt and passed it to Benoit Mbala, SWU’s African center who was at low post.”
“Double-teamed and unable to make an attempt, Mbala passed the ball back to Nalos.
“Nalos dribbled once and the final buzzer sounded.”
That should have been the end of the play by play, but right after the buzzer sounded, an infuriated, raging Alcoseba stormed into the court, shouting expletives in Visayan,
Without the benefit of translation, the eyewitness said it was easy to discern what Alcoseba was shouting about. He was berating Nalos for wasting valuable time. Instead of dribbling, he should have immediately attempted to score.
Frothing in the mouth, the veteran coach approached Nalos, shoved him, then gave him a hard slap on the side of his head.
The eyewitness said that slap was meant for the nape, but Yayoy missed his mark.
The spectators were dumbfounded. Somebody threatened to report Alcoseba to the SPCC (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Cagers) if only there was one.
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For Nalos, a third year financial management student, it was the height of humiliation. He admitted he was hurt severely, in more ways than one.
He related that the same thing happened to him not too long ago during a tournament in Cebu. He suffered the same amount of hurt and shame that he decided to quit the team.
Only to return much later.
While Nalos claims that he had gotten used to Yayoy’s antics and has become impervious to this, the thought of leaving the team has entered his mind again. He said he wasn’t sure if he was going to suit up for last Friday’s game.
A quick look at Friday’s game result, however, showed that Nalos had decided to play after all. Only, he laid a big fat egg this time.
I read in one of the websites that Nalos has vowed not to get himself hurt and humiliated again.
Well maybe he has to find himself another team, another coach.
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The NLEX Road Warriors, who have dominated all the tournaments in the PBA D-League, are all agog about their game against Fruitas.
If they win, they would break the record for the longest winning streak (22 games) in the PBA established by Crispa in 1983.
Incidentally, 7-foot Greg Slaughter has yet to see action for NLEX.