Mario West claims he wasn’t trying to fight Ogie Menor

AKTV file photo/Paolo Papa

Meralco import Mario West on Wednesday said he wasn’t trying to pick a fight with Air 21 forward Ogie Menor after the game between the Bolts and the Express.

In an interview with AKTV Center after the game, West said he was merely trying to speak to Menor personally when he rushed out of the court to the Air 21 locker room as soon as the buzzer sounded.

Menor had been ejected from the game after committing a flagrant foul penalty two on West.

“He thought I wanted to fight him, but no,” said West. “I wanted to let him know that no harm was done.”

The former NBA player added that he wasn’t the one who started the shoving match with Air 21 point guard Wynne Arboleda.

“When I got into the locker room, his teammates got in, and that’s when the commotion started,” West added. “The point guard (Arboleda) came in and he grabbed me and pushed me.”

Arboleda told InterAKTV a different version of events.

“Nagkatulakan pa kami eh, kasi siya naman yung nauna,” said Arboleda. “Hinahanap niya si Ogie, tapos nakita niyang wala. Nung mayroon nang mga umaawat, tinulak niya ako, kaya ako gumanti rin ako ng tulak.”

Menor and West have been summoned to appear before PBA commissioner Chito Salud. The Air 21 forward will meet with Salud on Thursday, while the Meralco reinforcement will appear before the commissioner on Friday.

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