ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines – Caloy Garcia said he “felt bad” after getting a late handshake from Aris Dimaunahan in Rain or Shine’s 92-98 loss to Blackwater in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup on Sunday, June 2. 

The two head coaches did not immediately shake hands at the end of the match as Garcia stood at midcourt while Dimaunahan was still congratulating his players on the bench. 

“I think he has to learn that after the game, you have to shake the hands of the opposing head coach. I was approaching him, then he turned his back,” Garcia told reporters. 

“So doon ako nagulat, parang bakit naman ganoon? I know he’s been winning. Sana he just keeps his foot on the ground. Maliit naman ang mundo ng basketball eh.”

(I was surprised, why did he do that? I know he’s been winning. I hope he just keeps his foot on the ground. Basketball is a small world.)

“It’s not proper, kasi whether you win or lose, you have to always, for me, you have to always shake the hands of the opposing team.”

Dimaunahan apologized to Garcia when he talked to reporters and said he has grown accustomed to congratulating his team first. 

“I just have this thing na after every game, I go to my players before shaking the hand of the opponent. Coach Caloy, if I offended you, I’m so sorry. Wala akong ibang gusto kung ‘di i-congratulate ko lang muna ang mga players ko.“

(I just have this thing that after every game, I go to my players before shaking the hand of the opponent. Coach Caloy, if I offended you, I’m sorry. I just wanted to congratulate my players first.) 

“If I offended you, I’m sorry. Ang laki ng respeto ko sa’yo and hindi kita kayang talikuran or bastusin kung ganoon man. So sorry and hopefully, hindi ka gaanong nagalit sa akin,” Dimaunahan said.

(If I offended you, I’m sorry. I have a huge respect for you and I wouldn’t turn my back on you or disrespect you. Sorry and hopefully, you’re not as really angry at me.) 

But Garcia said Dimaunahan and his squad can pat each other on the back in the locker room. 

“Nagsasama naman kayo sa dugout eh. Hindi ba puwedeng i-congratulate sila pagpasok sa dugout? This is the PBA,” Garcia said. 

(They are all in one dugout. Can’t he congratulate his team when he enters the dugout? This is the PBA.)

“If I did that to him or did that to any other coach, I think any other coach would react the same way.” 

It is all water under the bridge now, though, for Garcia. 

“Sa akin, tapos na ‘yun. I just feel bad that he had to do it kasi matagal ko na siyang kaibigan. I just feel bad that he had to do it that way,” Garcia said 

(For me, that already happened. I just feel bad that he had to do it because he’s been a friend of mine for some time now. I just feel bad that he had to do it that way.) 

Still winless after two games, Rain or Shine shifts its focus to Barangay Ginebra when they meet at the Araneta Coliseum on Friday, June 7. – Rappler.com