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Late altercation mars Gilas-Jordan rematch

Coaches Yeng Guiao and Joseph Steibing exchanged harsh words. Dennis Acosta
By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG--With how their first meeting went in terms of physicality and emotions, the tune-up rematch of Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan on Wednesday night was expected to be a tighter encounter.

It went more than that.

Tempers flared in the tail-end of their two-game friendly series at the Meralco Gym.

With 6:26 left in their showdown, Scottie Thompson gave a hard foul on a Jordanian player, but the said player did not like the foul and threw the ball at Thompson, triggering a commotion at the sideline.

The tension spilled to the coaches as Yeng Guiao and Joseph Steibing exchanged words.

Cooler heads struggled to restore order as the tussle lasted for a few minutes.

After both sides were finally pacified, Jordan decided to call it a night and quickly left the venue.

Gilas was ahead, 82-73, when the game was called off.

The said scuffle somehow overshadowed Gilas' third quarter storm, in which the team dropped 38 points to complete a comeback from a 19-point first half deficit.

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