Fight Mars Scrimmage Between Smart Gilas and Talk 'N Text

Fight mars scrimmage between Smart Gilas and Talk ‘N Text

by rick olivares

If there was a storm brewing outside last Friday, there was one that hit inside the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center at the Ateneo de Manila University. Smart Gilas Pilipinas engaged pro ball club Talk ‘N Text in a scrimmage when Tropang Texter Ranidel De Ocampo began throwing punches at the national’s Chester Jarrel Giles, the former Los Angeles Laker draftee who is a candidate for naturalization.

Talk ‘N Text, down by 10 points at that point early in the 3rd Quarter, was getting frustrated because they could not score down low with Giles and Japeth Aguilar swatting shots left and right. In one rebound play, Giles and De Ocampo got entangled with the latter emerging from the pile and throwing punches. Three other Tropang Texters – Jared Dillinger, Ali Peek, and Mac Cardona – joined the fray before cooler heads intervened. The incident happened in from of Talk N Text’s bench.

Both squads have telecommunications mogul Manuel V. Pangilinan as their sponsor. The two clubs have been practicing together for several months now with the National Coach Rajko Toroman helping the pro team adapt to their style of play.

The two teams have played one another several times with the pro club having been on the losing end. “It’s an unfortunate incident,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Emmanuel Eala. “But it was patched up.”

Sources say that the four pro players ganged up Giles while all others were stunned. Talk ‘N Text claim that Giles threw the first punch but video taken by the SBP showed otherwise.

The match was discontinued and the two players were made to meet at halfcourt by their two coaches and patch things up. But a Talk ‘N Text official who refused to be named said, “This is just Talk ‘N Text. Imagine when they meet up with Powerade.”

The two national squads are set to meet up this coming Monday, October 5 for the charity game “Pinoy Basketbol Kakampi Ninyo” which is for the benefit of Typhoon Ondoy victims.

Aguilar, the controversial Number One Draft Pick who has spurned Burger King the team that selected him will be donning the national colors for the game. His Powerade coach, Yeng Guiao, also the mentor for Burger King will be calling the shots for the match.

“I like to think that everyone will be professional enough because this game is for charity,” added Eala. “I don’t think anyone is going to back down from a good thing.”

Said one Gilas player, “Sayang. We looked up to them (Talk ‘N Text) as big brothers practicing with them from the start, idolizing them on television. Nakakawalang respeto.”

Whether the two clubs separate their practice sessions now is unclear.

Smart Gilas will be playing Alaska and San Miguel in tune-up games next week before their stint in the Philippine Basketball Association begins.

A few months earlier, it was the Powerade team that figured in a near free-for-all in a tune up match with the Lebanese National Team. Coincidentally, heavy rains also hit the country then.