Will Gozum did not hide his frustration over counterpart Pao Javillonar's antics in De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde's 81-75 Game 1 loss to Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Sunday in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball finals.
Javillonar was seen pinching and grabbing Gozum's backside during a dead ball situation in the 4:57 mark of the third period, with the Blazers holding onto a 63-58 lead.
"Gano'n 'yung ugali niya siguro. We don't tolerate that kind of player," said Gozum, a frontrunner for the Season 98 MVP award.
"Siguro physicality matatanggap ko pero 'yung ganoon? Kahit sino namang player, madidismaya sa ganoon but okay lang, tanggap ko naman. Kung ganoon siya, so be it."
"Gano'n 'yung character niya, gano'n yata siya pinalaki. I don't know."
("That's his personality, I guess. We don't tolerate that kind of player... Physicality, I can accept, but that? I think any player would be dismayed by that but it's okay. If that's what he's like, so be it... That's his character, that may be how he was raised. I don't know.")
Gozum, though, lauded Letran's pesky and physical defense, especially counterpart Louie Sangalang, who poured in a career-high 24 points while limiting him to just 18 points.
"For me, physicality mas masasanay kami sa kanila. Kudos to Louie, as in ang galing niya. Wala akong masabi," he said.
"Babawi kami in Game Two and hopefully i-try pa rin namin makuha 'yung championship."
("For me, we can get used to their physicality. Kudos to Louie, he was really good. I have no words... We'll bounce back in Game Two and hopefully, we can try to win the championship.")
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
