Almazan downplays hit, childish antics against White

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan downplayed his late-game antics against GlobalPort import Malcolm White in a heated duel won by the Elasto Painters on Sunday.

Almazan hit White in the mouth with a forearm with 40. 3 seconds left that nearly triggered another scuffle.

“That’s just part of the game, of course we can’t just let our teammates get hurt like that, and of course he has to respect our league,” said Almazan, who was called for a flagrant foul, in Filipino Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Almazan’s dirty play was in retaliation for White’s elbow on ROS guard Chris Tiu, who was bloodied with a busted lip.

READ: Tiu says ‘intentional’ elbow by White like ‘getting hit by Pacquiao’

On his way to the bench, Almazan even resorted to a childish behavior when he put his left index finger under his nose in a gesture towards White.

“That was nothing,” said Almazan, who had 12 points and eight boards. “I just did that to irk him (White) some more because they were on their way to losing. It’s on him on how we will read that situation.”

But Almazan didn’t stop there as he also tried to challenge White to a fistfight at the back tunnel of the Araneta Coliseum.

Good thing, GlobalPort guard Stanley Pringle led White to the exit to keep him from getting into trouble.