PHOENIX Fuel Masters head coach Francisco Luis Alas came to the defense of his players after San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo accused them of being dirty in the first two games of their 2019 Honda PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
Alas said that Bacolodnon Justin Chua, Douglas Kramer and Dave Marcelo, who were singled out by Fajardo for hitting him, were just physical but it is not right to tag them as “dirty players.”
“Walang record si Doug Kramer, Jus Chua, Dave Marcelo na dirty player sila, it’s true physical sila,” Alas wrote on his Twitter account in response to Fajardo’s litany after their 92-82 Game 2 win on Monday.
“The truth is maraming masakit sa kanila tama ng siko, balikat etc.etc. [but] we’re not complaining, that’s part of it and willing sila i-sacrifice ang body nila para makadepensa,” he added.
In what serve as a warning to Fuel Masters’ big men, Fajardo said that he is slowly losing his cool on the physical plays being employed on his by Chua, Kramer and Marcelo.
“Nagtitimpi lang ako,” said the five-time PBA MVP awardee. “Kapag pumatol ako sa physicality, parang mawawala ako sa game. Ayokong mawala sa game, gusto naming manalo. Kapag nawala ako sa game mahirap.”
Unlike Fajardo, his fellow Beermen center Christian Standhardinger was not able to control his temper as he kicked in the face and hit in the groin Fuel Masters’ Calvin Abueva. He was penalized by the league but curiously escaped suspension.
The Fuel Masters is hoping to recover from a 0-2 deficit when the race-to-four semifinals series resumes with Game 3 this Easter Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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Filipino boxer Benjain Mananquil will be back on the road as he aims to defend his WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight championship against Japanese Yuki Kobayashi on May 26 at Osaka, Japan.
It was the first title defense of Mananquil since winning the oriental championship at the expense of Japanese Tenta Kiyose last February at the latter’s home country. The Filipino fighter is upbeat as he has been training for more than a month now.
“My training camp is intense. I shall be 100 percent ready by May 26. I am very positive that I will bring back the belt home,” said Mananquil, who is being handled by Sanman Boxing Promotions of Dexter Tan.
“I have won the title on the road. I have no problem making my defense in the opponent’s turf. I am determined to remain champion and am aiming at a world title shot,” he added.
Mananquil will be entering the match with an impressive 17-1-3 win-loss-draw ring record, including victories by stoppages, while the Japanese challenger has 14-8-0 card with eight knockout win.
“Ben is a road warrior and has no problem winning against opponents with home advantage. He needs this win and hopefully gun for the world title,” Tan said./PN
