Les Tan/Red Sports
For the first time in a long while, I saw red. No, not Red Sports red, but angry red.
When your team loses to a better team, it’s ok. But when the winning team takes cheap shots, that’s another matter.
Last night, Mark Caguioa punched* Kyle Jeffers of the Singapore Slingers. As Kyle tried to get past Eric Menk, Caguioa came down with a clenched fist.
But hey, don’t take my word for it. You can see it in the sequence of pictures below.
The Ginebra Kings are a good team and they play good, entertaining ball. But ballers like Mark Caguioa should learn to do it with some class.
After all, this is basketball, not boxing.
What a thug.
Mark Caguioa jumps high, anticipating a jump by Kyle Jeffers of the Slingers (red). (Photo 1 © Francis Espeleta)
As he falls back to the court, Caguioa clenches his fist… (Photo 2 © Francis Espeleta)
… and follows through with a punch on Jeffers head. Jeffers winces from the challenge but the umpire missed that foul. What a thug. (Photo 3 © Francis Espeleta)
* I mistakenly wrote that he got away with the punch. Reader Gohan correctly pointed out that he was called for a hacking foul. My mistake.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZavNb8d1aM
SMART GILAS is scheduled to play in the elimination round only. All teams to play the other 10 teams once then the succeeding rounds will come to play. Games against SMART GILAS will count for the PBA Teams so that the teams will go for the win instead of experimenting or resting their rotation players.
I’m not sure if ABL will allow SMART GILAS to participate due to the salary cap (is it 10,000 USD maximum for a player)? I think CJ Giles is paid around 15,000 USD a month. But maybe the cap will be increased next year.
SMART GILAS will have a very busy schedule – will have a lot of games (at least 40?) playing teams in Europe and Australia.