Photo: Screengrab from One Sports/Youtube

By Art Ramirez

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao and Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua got into a heated verbal exchange in Game 4 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) 50 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.

Guiao and Chua were seen trading words after Rain or Shine defeated Barangay Ginebra, 97-85, during the postgame shaking of hands between the two teams. The two were also seen shouting at each other at the early part of the first quarter.

During the postgame press conference, Guiao accused Chua of intimidating the referees since the start of the semifinals.

“And I feel, as a governor, it’s not his job to keep talking to the referees in that way, intimidating them,” said Guiao in Taglish. “Our team governor, Atty. Mert (Mondragon), he never does that. Maybe coaches can complain. Maybe assistant coaches can complain. But I feel that in terms of demeanor and ethics, as a member of the board, if they can’t check on their emotions, they should just leave that to their coaching staff and to the players.”

In a separate interview, Chua urged Guiao to coach his team.

“I don’t meddle with his team. Don’t meddle with our team. He should just coach his team,” said Chua in Filipino.