UV walkout irks Medellin LGU
What was supposed to be a friendly match between two of Cebu’s top collegiate ballclubs turned out to be a ‘hostile’ one that resulted into a daring walkout by the University of the Visayas Green Lancers in their game against the University of San Carlos Warriors, leaving a large throng of fans that packed the Medellin Sports Complex disgruntled and the town’s top officials enraged last Saturday night.
Leading by nine points, 41-32, with 6:32 left in the third quarter, the Lancers, reportedly on the brink of a foul trouble, decided to pack it up, walked out of the silenced court and sped off to Cebu City.
“They did not even bother to talk to me on whatever their gripes are,” said Vice Mayor Alfonso Lim, who called UV’s act the “highest form of unsportsmanlike behavior.”
“I think they already thought of that (walkout) when their big men got into foul trouble after roughing up with the import of USC (Shooster Olago) because their bus was already ready to go kay pagpaapas nako sa pulis, dali kaayo nakalarga,” Lim said.
The game was spearheaded by the local government of Medellin under the leadership of Mayor Ricky Ramirez in cooperation with the Cebu City Sports Commission through commissioner Lorenzo ‘Chao’ Sy.
Prior to the game, Ramirez said the committee would have wanted the two imports of each team to play since it was only a friendly battle meant to entertain a town that is set to celebrate its fiesta.
But UV coach Gary Cortes declined to the proposition and instead insisted that each team fields in just one import all throughout the game as they originally agreed upon.
The committee yielded to Cortes and UV led all the way, but Ramirez said the game was marked by bumpy physical contacts, especially from the side of the Green Lancers.
Ramirez said he was told that UV’s camp may have caved in upon realizing that their import was already in penalty since they knew that the opponent’s import plays well and may well dominate the rest of the game to lift USC to victory.
After the walkout, Ramirez took to the social network his frustration.
“Grabe, as in grabe gyud. Gipakita sa UV ang ilang unsportsmanly conduct atubangan sa tanang tawo sa Medellin ug wa’y lain nakong i- blame kundi kaning bastos kaayo nga coach nga si Cortes,” Ramirez said. Ramirez said no winning is worth fighting at all costs. In a statement, UV Lancers team manager Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas said the team’s walkout did not show the true Visayanian spirit.
“Wa ko kauyon nga ni- walk out ang UV. That’s not what we teach in the university. Ang UV spirit unta, mo- fight even when our backs are against the wall,” Gullas said.
Gullas added that he will meet today all the UV people involved so that he will be enlightened on the consequences surrounding the ugly incident.
When sought for comment, Cortes extended his apology to Ramirez and the rest of the people of Medellin, but he insisted that his actions was the best thing to do at that point.
“It (walkout) was my call. For that, I humbly apologize to Mayor Ramirez and the people of Medellin,” said Cortes.
‘But I strongly feel it was the best thing to do because tension flared already in a highly physical game. I am just after of the safety of the players not only of UV but also of USC that is why I decided not to finish the game,”added Cortes, even as he blames‘sloppy officiating’ for the unfortunate turn of events.