GAU reserve does a ‘James Yap’ on Kaya’s Dakic

MANILA, Philippines — It’s just the second fixture for both Green Archers United and Kaya FC for the 2013 season but it seems it’s already an all-out war for glory for these teams in the country’s premier football league.

In a tight contest Tuesday night at the UFL’s new home, the Emperador Stadium, a jumble between Archers’ new acquisition Chieffy Caligdong and Kaya’s Eddie Mallari sparked a scuffle between the two teams midway through the second half — but it was GAU-Globe’s Elle Cagayanan who stole the show and had his precious TV airtime as he attempted a flying kick at Kaya defender Dario Dakic. And the catch? Cagayanan aka Bruce Lee was just a reserve player!

So much for Cagayanan’s first TV exposure as he was ejected from the game (along with Kaya head coach Maor Rozen and GAU team manager Monchu Garcia) for trying to sucker punch, err, sucker kick Dakic. Automatically, he will be out in their next game but could face a grimmer punishment from the UFL board for almost bringing Kung-Fu Soccer to Taguig. It also rained yellow cards after the near-brawl with five players, including Caligdong, being booked.

Cagayanan, in his defense, told AKTV, that he was just protecting his teammates and their team manager Garcia from Kaya players. “Inaaway kasi nila si sir Monchu.”

Cagayanan’s cheap shot is eerily reminiscent of James Yap’s “stomping” on import Terrence Leather in a match between Purefoods and Talk N Text in July 2008:

It was already the fourth quarter and everything — including the players’ heads — was starting to heat up towards the final stretch of the game. As the plays got physical, Purefoods’ Jondan Salvador and Leather got tangled to each other with the latter being called for a defensive foul. Frustrated by the calls, Leather then threw the ball to Salvador’s face and you guessed it right: he got a technical foul. 

With Leather fuming mad, Yap entered the scene in defense of his teammate (hmm… sounds familiar) and gave the import a kick in the butt. Yap then ran away as if chased by Kris Aquino while a platoon of players tried restraining the TNT import who wanted nothing but Yap’s blood and guts.

Both Yap and Leather were fined by the PBA in what could be one of the funniest melees to ever happen in the game of basketball.

Cagayanan, not to be outdone, tried to do a sequel to that, doing his own version of that run-for-your-life moment albeit missing on the karate kick. 

But with all seriousness, these athletes should know that they are considered role models for the youth. Be it football or basketball, a superstar like Yap or a benchwarmer like Cagayanan, they should be responsible for what they do for they are on live TV for a reason. While it may give some laughs, incidents like these have no place in sports. Of course it is not totally avoidable but they could at least give it a shot. – Rappler.com