We arrived at two in the afternoon in the arena, with a lot of people
from the local organizing committee still doing preparations that were supposed
to be done the day before, especially those damn floor decals. We had an
improved sound system that we were testing hours before the game, including all
the performers that will show their acts during the halftime break. Two hours
before game time, the installation of the decals were completed… we’re ready.
Both teams had their shootarounds immediately. Some players from both
teams were present hoisting up their shots. Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley
was even accommodating at that moment, we had the chance to take a picture with
the three-time NBA Champion. So were the Gilas guys who went in the barriers to
pose for selfies with the fans who entered the arena early. 90 minutes before
the game, there was zero probability that the game will blow up the way it did.
The atmosphere was nowhere near intense; it was more of an excitement.
Twenty minute before tip-off; the official start time of the protocol.
All players will officially enter the court for warm ups. Everything that will
happen from then on will be done with complete precision; team photo-ops at the
11-minute mark, line-up introductions at the eight-minute mark, anthems at the sixth,
game officials introduction at the three-minute mark, starters introduced 30
seconds before tip-off. Tip-off was at 7:30 in the evening. The shoving and the
taunting you saw on the news during the lay-up lines happened between the 20th
to 11th minute mark.
I honestly didn’t take that incident very seriously. It was happening on
the other side of the floor, opposite to where I was seated. I just thought
that the Gilas players were just checking out the FIBA World Cup Trophy that
was displayed just slightly past the midcourt line going to the side of the
Australians. Apparently, that shoving and taunting incident was already
happening. It only dawned on me that something was going on when I start seeing
someone from the Gilas side pulling their teammates trying to cool them down.
At my vantage point, it seems like the other 10 or 11 players are just focused
on the lay-ups and didn’t care about that mild disturbance. One thing I can
only think of at that point was the Japanese loss still stung them somehow and
now they’re venting it on the lay-up line.
The game started. The ten players on the floor were laser focus on
their task of winning the game. Both teams are known for their physicality. The
hard bumps on screens was something that I expected from both teams. The
Australians were making their outside shots, something I really fear for the Gilas
side because that will blow the game wide open for their opponents. In short, I
predicted an Australian win on our home floor. But of course, the true Gilas
fan in me is still thinking that somewhere along the way the Australians will
mess up their game once again and our troops can take advantage of it,
snatching a win from another powerhouse team.
Fouls were pretty scarce in the first half. On an average, Gilas gets
into penalty like past halfway point of the quarter. At this level of
physicality between the two teams, I thought we’ll have a long night of
basketball because of early penalties. But apparently, referees are letting
them play on. I vividly remember a play where a referee could’ve at least
called a foul; RR Pogoy extended his forearm when an Aussie was running over
him on a screen. The referees could’ve called an offensive foul and that Aussie
player was asking for one but the referee let them play on. Those thuds and
bumps were happening on both sides, and referees are just letting them play on.
The announcements that I was making during timeouts were keeping me busy, but
if I was just a mere fan watching from that place where I was seated, I would
really think that this physicality is going to blow up at some point.
True enough, it blew up. 4:01 mark of the third quarter. Shot clock at
13 seconds. It has been my practice when I call basketball games to write the
exact time whenever a signal for flagrant fouls are made. Even though I was not
the game court announcer, I still wrote it. It was written beside the note
22,181; that was the number of paying patrons who watched the game. And it was
a FIBA record.
Upon turning my head on the play, I already saw a Gilas player down.
The next thing I saw, Carl Bryan Cruz running from the bench about to unleash a
hammer, Calvin Abueva jumping on the fray, and a sea of Gilas players running
towards their side of a basket like a wild mob. Turning my head on the other
side, the Australian players wanting to charge as well, but their coaches are
blocking their way. Next thing I saw was Luc Longley, his face all red,
charging inside the court, about to get in the path of a charging Carl Bryan
Cruz. Back on the basket of the Gilas side, I saw a bottle of water being
thrown and a chair flying. Then one Australian player emerged from the rumble being
assisted on his walk back to their bench; it was Nathan Sobey. Next thing I saw
were the three referees, standing just in front of us, the table officials. It
was understandable that they just remain there, it is a too big and too
dangerous of a task for them to try to stop the melee. The security personnel
took charge of securing all the players and the court and to prevent the
situation from exploding again.
Only two words came out of my mouth while all those things were
happening: holy shit.
A couple of guys from ESPN 5 was seated beside me and I mentioned to
them… this thing is going to be all over the world for sure.
True enough.
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Stay tuned for Part Three.
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