Austria says Ross told him Guiao hurled racist slur at him during altercation

Chris Ross had to be restrained after apparently having a verbal spat with Coach Yeng Guiao. PBA Media Bureau
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--With 1:46 left and San Miguel just waiting for the final buzzer to sound to formalize its fourth straight win in the PBA Philippine Cup, Chris Ross, who looked to be frustrated about the tussles that he had earlier in the fourth quarter, lashed out at the NLEX bench.

Coach Yeng Guiao answered with his own piece of mind to Ross, and a late altercation occurred. Luckily, cooler heads quickly prevented the verbal skirmish from heating up.

However, Ross claimed to Coach Leo Austria that Guiao did more than just a mere rebuttal.

"According to Chris, tinawag siya na n****. That's what he explained to me," Austria relayed what Ross told him during the post-game press conference at the Cuneta Astrodome on Friday night.

Ross and Guiao was each given a technical foul for the said tongue-lashing, and with Ross being whistled for a technical foul too during an altercation with Alex Mallari, Ross was quickly sent to the showers.

Following the game, Austria said that he had to give some pointers to Ross.

"I'm confronting Chris Ross because he's one important player in my team especially in the endgame. Fortunately, we were leading by 12 points with 1:30 left—already a won game for us, but I hope this thing is a lesson for any player, especially the key players in the endgame," Austria continued. "We cannot afford to lose players kasi imagine, na-thrown out siya. Eh what kung close game ito?"

Still, he is very aware that racism is not welcome in any sport.

"That's the word that he doesn't want to hear from people. Nag-flare up yung bata, so I cannot blame him," Austria further said.

Ross, who was also involved in an incident with Mike Miranda in which the latter kicked the former's groin in response to a hard foul given to him, quickly begged off from interviews and rushed out of the arena.

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