Why can't we be friends

"Una siya naging akin!"
(Photo courtesy of Spin.Ph)

And just when we thought that at least for a conference, we've seen the end (or stoppage) of the dreaded (slightly over-rated) Petronovela starring the Petron Blaze Boosters, we are treated to a meltdown of epic proportions that have even PBA legends barking and back on some Internet headline.

We're talking about what transpired between the Boosters' team captain Arwind Santos and import Renaldo Balkman in the dying seconds of a loss to the Alaska Aces. In case you have yet to see it, the Aces were up by seven with under a minute to go with no signs of a miracle comeback courtesy of the Boosters. Balkman proceeded to give up a duty foul on Aces counterpart Rob Dozier, then went storming off to the nearest zebra (re: referee) he could find and unload on.

And boy oh boy did he ever.


One of his assistant coaches tried to pull him away but he shoved that guy's hands off before looking for another referee. This time it's teammate Ronald Tubid who went up to his import to try and get the hot-blooded Puerto Rican to calm down but that didn't work. Then came posterboy Alex Cabagnot who's coming off injury before captain Santos finally came in to meet his unruly import eye-to-eye.

At first, Santos was just doing his job and putting himself between Balkman and the referee. Then Balkman pushed Santos, which forced the equally touch Cabalen to retaliate and push back. This only escalated things, with Balkman putting his hands on his teammate in an attempt to choke the living daylights off the man we call "Pinoy Spiderman."

Hours after the game, we're hearing all sorts of "all part of the game" schtick from Santos, Balkman and the whole Petron camp. Balkman has gone out of his way, alongside his manager and local handlers, to apologize to everyone but Danding Cojuangco. If you're a Petron fan looking for wins, you'd be hard pressed to send Balkman home owing to the team's impressive 5-2 start.

But, if you're a fan of team chemistry and bleeds for any and all Filipino no matter the allegiance, then it's pretty clear that Balkman (no matter how insanely talented) has to go. We've seen teammates jawing at each other in the heat of the moment, specially in losses (just watch Steve Nash and Dwight Howard at the LakeShow), but for guys to almost come to blows? That's one for the books. Can't remember the last time we've seen such a thing. Coaches versus players, players versus referees, Coach Tim Cone versus a hapless monobloc chair-- but teammate versus teammate?

Wow. Just wow.