IS it getting serious? Meaning, is the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) now being plagued by a virus with two variants that are both proving to be virulent and extremely harmful—as recent events would suggest?
Looks like it.
And what are those two variants again?
Physical violence and verbal violence. That’s what they are, by golly.
The two-variant virus attacked again last weekend during the game between San Miguel Beer and Rain or Shine.
Both variants produced penalties quickly—but, of course.
The physical violence manufactured free-throw producing technicals.
The verbal violence stemming from unworthy words swapped by San Miguel’s Chris Ross and Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao drew them a technical each.
The game’s physical violence claimed Beau Belga, he with a frame resembling that of a wide-bodied Boeing jet. He got ejected for committing a Flagrant Foul 2 in the fourth quarter, dooming Rain or Shine’s cause.
San Miguel Beer was able to extract a 113-105 win from the wreckage of that violence-laden game—but at a costly price.
So dangerously physical was the match that June Mar Fajardo, SMB’s 6-foot-10 cornerstone, suffered a wounded throat that sent him to the hospital right after the game.
If damage would prove serious—God forbid—he’d need weeks to recover, and that would surely hurt San Miguel’s title-retention bid in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
Earlier, verbal violence committed by TNT coach Chot Reyes and his assistant, Jojo Lastimosa, cost them fines of P50,000 and P20,000, respectively, for challenging referees’ calls while entering the playing arena without permission.
It is almost always the referees that get rapped each time turmoil hits a game.
But how many times has it been said that referees, like all humans, can only do so much?
Refereeing is no easy task and, if truth be told, it is a job almost as thankless as the work of a public servant.
Still, be thankful: the referee is the vaccine to the PBA virus with the twin variants.
And so, again, the question: Which is better, a game without a referee or a game with a referee?
The answer is as obvious as President Marcos Jr. being a fervent Formula One fan.
THAT’S IT Was La Salle’s 83-78 win over Ateneo on Sunday a creepy caricature on the Blue Eagles’ not so solid bid for the UAAP basketball crown this year? Could be but then, it is still too early to tell…Prayers for June Mar Fajardo’s quick recovery from that throat injury. He is only starting to regain his old form after a damaged leg sidelined him for a year.