PBA: Damian Chongqui walks out of Macau-Terrafirma game

Damian Chongqui suddenly left the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Macau's thick of the fight against Terrafirma. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Macau's dismal campaign in the PBA Commissioner's Cup turned from bad to worse when a sign of locker room tension happened on Saturday night.

Courtside reporter Belle Gregorio said during her update that Damian Chongqui suddenly exited the Ninoy Aquino Stadium during the team's showdown against Terrafirma.

Head coach Marcus Elliott subbed the diminutive yet explosive guard with 4:28 left in the third quarter, nearly a minute after hitting a three-pointer that kept the game close.

However, as Gregorio reported, Chongqui went straight to his team's dugout, quickly packed his bag, and walked out of the arena, and he was dearly missed when the Dyip pulled away in the fourth to demolish the Black Knights.

When asked for a comment, Elliott admitted that Chongqui was mad at something but his decision to storm out of the Ninoy Aquino Stadium was a surprising move.

"I don't know what happened. I looked up and saw he was a little upset. I'm not sure what that was about," Elliott said.

However, he felt something was already not right when Terrafirma raced to a 17-6 lead midway through the first quarter.

"I noticed that our energy was a little different in the first quarter," Elliott further said.

He added, "I'm like, 'Guys, what's up with y'all energy like?' I could sense something like that," although he reasserted that he had no idea what was really going on.

Elliott then said that he respects Chongqui's decision to make a premature exit from the game.

"If he felt like that's what he needed to do, then I respect it," Elliott further said, adding that it was the first time it happened to his team.

Already playing with only nine players for quite a while now, Macau ended the Saturday night game with eight left, and, unless they successfully persuade Chongqui to play one more time, the team may bring the same number of players in its swan song against Phoenix on Wednesday night back at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

"We've been dealing with this lineup issue for the past 4-5 games, and it's nothing in-house right now that we can basically explain. It's just a bunch of personal issues," Elliott continued.

Despite the depleted roster, Macau still managed to score two wins late into the conference, although it was not enough to salvage its season as the club was officially eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the past week.

While he awaits for the team management's next move, Elliott's focus is for the Black Knights to finish their campaign strong and play spoilers to the Fuel Master's bid for a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.

"I don't know how the management is going to be handling it, so we just got to continue to work and stay focused," he further said, adding that he was proud at how his remaining players put up a gallant stand despite the fourth quarter woes, where they were held to only seven points.