By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno – PNA news
MANILA — With how their first meeting went in terms of physicality and emotions, the tune-up rematch of Gilas Pilipinas and Jordan on Wednesday night was expected to be a tighter encounter.
It went more than that.
Tempers flared up in the tail-end of their two-game friendly series at the Meralco Gym in Pasig.
With 6:26 left in their showdown, Scottie Thompson gave a hard foul on a Jordanian player, who did not take it lightly, and threw the ball at Thompson, triggering a commotion on the sidelines.
The tension spilled to the coaches as Yeng Guiao and Joseph Steibing exchanged words.
Cooler heads struggled to restore order as the tussle lasted for a few minutes.
After both sides were finally pacified, Jordan decided to call it a night and quickly left the venue.
Gilas was ahead, 82-73, when the game was called off.
The scuffle somehow overshadowed Gilas’ third quarter storm, in which the team dropped 38 points, to complete a comeback from a 19-point first half deficit.
