Ginebra assistant coach hurt in traffic row

source: abs-cbnnews.com

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings assistant coach Arthur dela Cruz wanted to prevent a traffic spat involving 2 Filipino-Americans from escalating but he got hurt instead in Alabang, Muntinlupa City early Sunday.

Dela Cruz’s swollen left hand suffered a fracture during the traffic row that happened at 1 a.m. He also has cuts on his knees and legs.

Senior Police Officer 1 Ramon Pagaddu, investigator of the Highway Patrol Group of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), said the 2 Fil-Ams aboard a Ford Lynx (plate number ZBL 921) thought the tourist bus, with Ginebra players on board, forcibly got near them.

The Ford Lynx passengers were identified as Orquia Joeffrey Lacuesta and Tristan Bael. The car chased the bus until the C-5 exit.

The Fil-Ams reportedly went down their car and knocked on the door of the bus.

'Seemingly under the influence'

According to Pagaddu, the suspects were “seemingly under the influence of liquor.” The bus door was broken after being whacked with a skateboard.

Dela Cruz was trying to stop the Fil-Ams from forcing the driver, Likong Leutemio Olami, to go down the bus. It caught him by surprise when the suspects pulled him down the bus.

Olami and dela Cruz refused to be interviewed by the media.

“Di ako tumulong, hinatak nila ako. Inaawat ko nga yong driver. Di ko alam nangyari, sabi ko lang tama na tapos hinatak nila ako palabas. Dalawa humatak sa akin. Tumama kamay ko, hinatak nila ako,” dela Cruz said in the police precinct.

'Simple misunderstanding'

Meanwhile, Ginebra assistant coach and former pro Allan Caidic said he was sleeping when the incident occurred.

“Natutulog ako, simple misunderstanding lang sa traffic siguro, galing kaming game sa Batangas. On the way back dito, sa may C-5 exit dito, nagkaroon ng commotion,” noted Caidic.

“Yung dalawang Fil-Am ata yon. What I’ve heard, somewhere in Alabang, biglang may mga cones, they want to change lane, right of way yung bus so lumabas, parang na-cut. I don't know ha, natutulog ako. So hinabol niya hanggang sa pagdating dito sa exit, bumaba yung dalawa, kinakalampag yung bus,” he continued.

Caidic said the officials have already sent their players home.

The Fil-Am suspects, on the other hand, did not show up at the precinct.