Stir in Ateneo-La Salle game as ex-Batangas vice gov charges bench

MANILA, Philippines – A commotion along the sidelines marred Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 Finals between rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles and DLSU Green Archers on Saturday, December 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Security was reportedly called to the area behind the Ateneo bench as a man charged towards the team. It later turned out to be former Batangas vice governor Mark Leviste, who was seen raising a middle finger in photos and a video posted by ABS-CBN’s TJ Manotoc and Mark Escarlote.

Photos from @vhonne21 of that tense scene when former Batangas Vice Gov Mark Leviste charged the Ateneo bench pic.twitter.com/mp43z6KH59

— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) December 3, 2016

 

Emotions flared on the sidelines during the Ateneo-La Salle Finals Game 1 pic.twitter.com/108IRZ8iyp

— Mark Escarlote (@fromtheriles) December 3, 2016

 

Leviste then took to his Twitter account to claim he was provoked by a member of the Ateneo coaching staff.

For d record,d coaching staff who provoked me was d one who asked me to go down,so I did.I don’t know him.Such is a rivalry & Championship. https://t.co/7x3VBCznZp

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

Leviste went on to call the unnamed member of the coaching staff a “son of a bitch,” saying he should be suspended “for provoking a fan and spectator.”

Seriously? I think they should suspend that son of a bitch coach of Ateneo for provoking a fan and spectator. https://t.co/1aiwKLobIh

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

He has since been responding to tweets and criticizing the Blue Eagles’ coaching staff.

Makapal ang mukha ng coaching staff ng @ateneodemanilau,dahil sila ang nag hamon at hindi naman kami aatras. https://t.co/pAEO58jtZh

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

Sa awa ng Diyos, mabuti nalang hindi ako Atenista. Ayaw nila sa akin, ayaw ko rin sa kanila. It’s all good. https://t.co/Xxe13sBRmy

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

Hindi ako pikon. Ang coaching staff ang nang hamon. Hindi ako asar, ang mga Atenista ang naaasar. Hahahaha  https://t.co/1IbMig94mh

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

Tell that to the Ateneo coaching staff. I will put my credibility and reputation on the line for my alma mater more than politics.https://t.co/Ba11luVHwh

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

I’m sorry. I won’t back down especially from an Atenean. Just the same, my apologies for the commotion. https://t.co/edMNXTjZxT

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

Well, I guess none. That’s just how a rivalry with an archrival goes, and then we try to move on to the next game. https://t.co/hjdeFMCYaB

— Leviste•Mark Leviste (@markleviste) December 3, 2016

 

La Salle won the game 67-65 and will have a chance to close out Ateneo on Wednesday, December 7.

– Rappler.com