| Riot mars PBL-LIGA match
WHAT was expected to be a relaxed game turned out to be
a bloody one as the game between Misamis Oriental and
M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala was halted because of a riot in
the eighth leg of the Tournament of the Philippines (TOP)
Wednesday at the Xavier University Gym in Cagayan de Oro
City.
With the host way ahead, 66-44, and with only 28 ticks
left, a skirmish broke out after Meteors forward Ronald
Lamocha, in retaliation, swung at Cebu center Nat Cruz
while they were heading to Meteors’ court.
Cruz chased Lamocha who ran to the Meteors bench and
engaged him in a fistfight that also saw Cebu’s Hafer Mondragon
and Misamis Oriental’s Kris Lucernas joining the
fray.
The scene turned uglier when Meteors reserve player
Wellan Munos, who was in street clothes, also threw a punch
at Cruz while some home fans started throwing mineral water
at the Cebu players.
When the smoke finally cleared –thanks to the intervention
of technical director Perry Martinez–Cruz was brought
to a nearby hospital to treat his cuts in his nape. He also ended
up with a swollen eye.
The remainder of the game clock was not played as Cebu
coach Raul Alcoseba conceded the game
to the Meteors to protect his players from
further harm.
Cebu has threatened not to show up for
the finals game (Thursday) after the incident
but Misamis Oriental Governor Oscar
Moreno gave his assurance that it will
not happen again.
Lamocha apparently gave Cruz an elbow
after he was hit twice in the head in a
rebound scramble earlier.
“It was an unfortunate incident that
this thing happened. We will make sure
a tighter security will be put in place and
this will not happen anymore,” said Misamis
Oriental Governor Oscar Moreno
who was not at the venue due to prior
commitment.
The game was physical from the start
that a total of 42 fouls were slapped on
both teams.
However, it was Misamis’ defense that
made the difference as for the first time
no player from Cebu scored in double figures.
Ascof Lagundi ended a two-game losing
streak with an 81-72 victory over Hobe
Bihon-Taguig in the first game.
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