Bulls bring down Giants

Bulls bring down Giants

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BY NOLI CORTEZ

WHAT was supposed to be a no-bearing game will prove costly for Red Bull and Purefoods last night in the Smart PBA Philippine Cup at the Astrodome.

The Bulls won 97-84 but it meant little for them since they have long been assured of the No. 4 seeding and an outright seat in the best-of-three quarterfinals by virtue of a 10-8 win-loss slate. Ditto for the Giants, who have long latched on to the No. 1 spot and an automatic semifinals seat after winning 12 games.

Stealing the limelight were Red Bull’s Carlo Sharma and Purefoods’ Jondan Salvador who made sure the game won’t turn into a sleeper–for all the wrong ways and reason.

The two figured in an altercation late in the game and stand to be suspended at least a game each, a development that will surely be felt by their respective teams in their next games.

"The technical committee will review the game tapes and we will talk to the concerned players," said PBA Interim Commissioner Sonny Barrios. "The committee will base its recommendations on what they see on the tapes. But I’m sure sanctions are forthcoming."

The way it happened was stunning, but a little expected since some rugged plays had crept in on a game that started out as close as it could get.

Red Bull was ahead 73-65 with still 9:20 to go when Salvador gave Sharma a hard pick. The Bulls center let loose with an elbow to the Giant forward’s chin and the latter, a southpaw, countered with a clothesline-like left.

Sharma, who was earlier slapped a technical for a hard foul on Kerby Raymundo, fell on his behind and slumped back on the court when he first tried to get up. When he was finally able to do so, he tried to go after Salvador, but cooler heads intervened.

When order was restored, the two were ejected.

"Body-body lang ang labanan, napipikon siya," said Salvador later in the hallway leading to the Giants dugout right in front of the media room.

Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao said the incident was caused by each team’s determination to wind up the eliminations with a win.

He admitted, however, the projected loss of the 6-foot-6 Sharma in at least one quarterfinals game will surely be a big blow to his team.

"We’ll leave it to the wisdom of the commissioner and wait for his decision. But it will certainly hurt us if one of our big men is unable to play," he said.

Source: http://www.malaya.com.ph/jan17/spor1.htm