HEATED. NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio (left, in red) “belly bumps” Blackwater counterpart Ariel Vanguardia after the final buzzer of their PBA Philippine Cup game at Ynares Center Antipolo on Saturday night (June 18, 2022). Jarencio said Vanguardia disrespected them by calling for a timeout with just six seconds left and the win already in the bag for Blackwater. (Screenshot)
MANILA – NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio has been fined PHP20,000 by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for confronting Blackwater counterpart Ariel Vanguardia right after the final buzzer of their Philippine Cup game at Ynares Center Antipolo on Saturday night.
Blackwater won, 97-90, to improve to 2-1 while NorthPort fell to 2-2.
Jarencio “belly bumped” Vanguardia at midcourt, apparently in disgust when the latter called for a timeout with 6.6 seconds left and the Bossing already assured of victory.
In interviews, Jarencio said the timeout call was a disrespect to the league and the entire NorthPort organization.
“Hindi tinira after nung timeout. Rinig na rinig namin na, ‘O, ‘wag na hawakan mo na lang.’ ibig sabihin walang purpose ‘yung timeout mo. Pambabastos ‘yun (There were no more attempts made after the timeout. We heard them clearly, to just hold on to the ball, which means the timeout had no purpose. It was disrespectful),” Jarencio said.
Vanguardia, who claimed Jarencio cussed at him, countered that they wanted to score one last time but just didn’t find an opening to do so.
"Huwag lang mumurahin ‘yung nanay ko and I apologize na pagpasok ko dito [sa press room], medyo mainit ang ulo ko kasi nasama 'yung nanay ko eh. Talagang very emotional ako doon sa nanay ko kasi alam naman natin na (Don't just cuss at my mom and I apologize that when I entered here, I was upset because my mom was dragged into this. I was really very emotional about my mom because we all know that) I'm very close to my mom," said Vanguardia, whose mother has already passed away.
In an interview at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on Sunday, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial PBA said Jarencio's violation was illegal physical contact, similar to the prohibition when talking to referees.
According to Marcial, Jarencio was repentant of his actions.
"Sinabi ko sa kanya, huwag nang maulit. Sabi ni Pido, kung ano ang ipapataw mo sa akin, Comm, tatanggapin ko (I told him, don't do it again. Pido said he will accept whatever penalty will be imposed on him)," Marcial said. (PNA)
