Pamboy apologizes to Talk ‘N Text teammates for causing trouble

InterAKTV/Markku Seguerra

Talk ‘N Text rookie point guard Pamboy Raymundo, who was ejected from Game Four of the PBA finals with 1:47 left to play, has privately apologized to his teammates for his role in the controversial scuffle, according to team officials.

With his team comfortably ahead, 96-81, Raymundo hit B-MEG guard Josh Urbiztondo with a high elbow on a screen that sent tempers flaring. Things escalated further when Joe Devance tossed the ball at Raymundo’s face, and the rookie smacked him at the back of the head.

Raymundo received a flagrant foul penalty one for each of his two hits, while Devance was tossed with a flagrant foul penalty-two for his action. Urbiztondo was called for a technical foul on the play.

When he addressed his teammates after the game, Raymundo reportedly said that he didn’t mean for his elbow to be up as high as it was when he hit the screen from Urbiztondo.

In the postgame press conference, Talk ‘N Text coach Chot Reyes anticipated that the physicality in the series could take a step up because of the incident.

“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of things after what happened tonight,” said Reyes. “But in the end, it’s going to depend on which team is able to just focus and concentrate on the task at hand and play above and beyond all the other things.”

Reyes went on to call the incident “unfortunate.”

B-MEG coach Tim Cone believed Raymundo got off lightly for instigating the scuffle.

“I know Chot, and that’s not his intention to send somebody out to start a fight with a better player,” said Cone after Game Four. “But you have to have those guys under control.”

Raymundo, Devance, and Urbiztondo are scheduled to appear before PBA commissioner Chito Salud on Tuesday for their actions in the game.

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