UAAP: Ateneo coach Alas, UP deputy Luanzon clear air on end-game spat

End-game commotion between University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University in UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball. UAAP Media.MANILA — Tensions flared at the conclusion of the game between University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University over Jacob Bayla’s last-second slam.

With the win already in the bag for the Fighting Maroons, Bayla punctuated the game with a breakaway dunk, drawing the ire of Blue Eagles head coach Louie Alas.

“Highly emotional lang ito. I’m sorry, pero I just wanted him to know: ‘Wag mong gawin yan. Panalo ka na eh,’” said Alas following their 82-74 loss. “Kung kami, hindi namin gagawin yan. Papagalitan ko talaga yung players ko.”

Alas was seen talking to Bayla, and further escalating the situation was the arrival of UP deputy coach Christian Luanzon, who came to the aid of his forward.

The Ateneo coach admitted emotions got the better of him and expressed appreciation for how the UP coaching staff apologized, though he had choice words for Luanzon.

“Yung mga [UP] coaches, nagso-sorry. Ewan ko ‘tong si Christian Luanzon, kung anong kinakagalit niya,” said Alas. “Uncalled for daw, instead na awatin mo na lang yung player mo. That’s wrong.”

“That’s why I really appreciate sila Coach Goldwin [Monteverde], yung iba. Ako, tanggap ko naman agad yun eh, but at least, alam nilang dapat hindi,” he added.

Luanzon, on the other hand, said he was simply trying to defuse the situation.

“Obviously, it was a heated game. Actually I was just trying to pacify him,” said Luanzon. “Not sure, because it was loud in the arena, pero I’m not sure what he told Jacob.”

UP’s offensive coordinator also stressed that there is nothing but love between him and Alas, which is why he did not view the incident as something as divisive as it may have appeared.

“I have the utmost respect for the Alas family. I’m very close to Kevin. Nilapitan ko sila, the whole family, and it was just an unfortunate incident,” said Luanzon.

“Sorry with how things turned out. Instincts na rin ng players. This is not the first time na nangyari ito, but it is just what it is, yung nangyari,” he added.

Alas, for his part, also acknowledged that his emotions got the better of him.

“I’m sorry. Ang tanda ko na, nagalit pa ako,” he said. “Again, it’s an unspoken rule, pero anyway, it happened.”