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| Cliff Hodge was the subject of a post-game critique from coach Yeng Guiao after an unsportsmanlike foul on Adrian Nocum. Peter Baltazar |
MANILA—Coach Yeng Guiao took exception to the unsportsmanlike foul on Cliff Hodge, who injured Adrian Nocum's knee with 4:06 left in the third quarter of the Rain or Shine-Meralco game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
In fact, right after the Elasto Painters' escape act, Guiao did not hesitate to call Hodge more than just a dirty player during the post-game press conference.
"Medyo kinabahan kami doon sa nangyari kay Adrian. Again, it's Cliff Hodge. Dami nang ganung insidente kay Cliff Hodge. He's the dirtiest player in the league, I think, and dapat siguro tignan ng liga yan. He's a danger to the other players in the game. His record speaks for itself," Guiao said.
He also said the referees made the right call when they slapped the six-foot-five bruising forward with the flagrant foul.
"Sinaksak nya yung paa nya eh. Kaya nga tinawagan ng unsportsmanlike foul. Maraming incidents na ganoon na I think cause danger to the players, and it's always been a lot of situations or incidents where Hodge is involved," Guiao further said.
Recalling what transpired in the said play, Nocum said, "Solid talaga. Yung tuhod niya, tumama dito sa hita ko. Sobrang sakit. Ramdam na ramdam ko yung tama."
The high-flying guard felt the same reaction with Guiao when his knee momentarily buckled but eventually felt relief when he was able to walk through the pain.
"Kinabahan ako nang sobra kasi talaga yung pagtama niya sa akin, ramdam na ramdam yung sakit. Hindi ko siya magalaw, kaso pagtayo ko, nailakad ko naman siya. Sabi ko, 'OK naman,'" Nocum continued.
Playing through the injured leg, Nocum delivered the game-winning assist, finding Aaron Fuller amid a double team for the go-ahead layup.
The dime, his eighth in the game, made up for his offensive struggles wherein he only had six points on 3-for-9 shooting.
"Medyo maalat lang talaga. Bumawi lang ako sa ibang bagay na pwedeng maitulong sa team," Nocum further said.
"Knowing Aaron, talagang pag nasa ilalim na siya. Pag nakita mong may advantage, ibigay mo na sa kanya. So, nakita ko lang na bantay sa kanya si (Javee) Mocon. May advantage kaya pinasa ko na agad yung bola sa kanya. Ayun, nakuha niya."
ROS's next game will be next Sunday against Phoenix at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, which means Nocum has one full week to rest his injured leg.
