NCAA: Lyceum’s JM Bravo ‘OK and cleared,’ defends John Barba

Lyceum’s John Barba tends to unconscious teammate JM Bravo, who banged heads with Arellano’s Renzo Abiera late in the fourth quarter of an NCAA game.-NCAA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Lyceum player John Barba took flak for his ill-advised action when he tended to his teammate JM Bravo after the guard laid unconscious on the floor after a head collision late in their game against Arellano on Saturday.

Barba drew criticisms on social media after shaking Bravo’s head out of “panic” in an attempt to “wake him up.”

“I panicked, I just did everything to wake him up or for him to hear me,” said Barba in Filipino after their 91-86 loss. “I know what I did was wrong but when you’re there in the situation, you wouldn’t be thinking of it because you just want to help your brother.”

READ: NCAA: Lyceum’s JM Bravo now conscious after head collision

“As a brother, you don’t want to see him like that. You’ll really panic. It was the first time I saw him in that state,” added Barba.

Bravo was stretchered off the court and eventually snapped out of consciousness at the dugout. He was then brought to nearby Cardinal Santos Medical Center and underwent a CT scan.

Bravo took to social media to come to the defense of Barba.

“Please STOP spreading bad vibes, bad and nonsense comments please! John Barba and I are very close and I treat him as a brother also,” wrote Bravo, who banged heads with Arellano’s Renzo Abiera, in a Facebook post just hours after the game.

READ: NCAA: Arellano clips Lyceum behind JL Capulong’s career game

“I understand what he did and I appreciate everyone’s concern especially my team (LPU) so please stop making bad comments. I’m already okay and cleared.”

Barba led Lyceum, which dropped to 6-6, with 18 points while Bravo had 17 points and eight rebounds before the scary incident.