Glenn Khobuntin says verbal altercation with teammate Poy Erram just 'friendly fire'

Glenn Khobuntin and Poy Erram had to be separated late in the second quarter after the TNT teammates figured in a verbal altercation in the middle of Game 3 of their semifinals duel against Rain or Shine on Sunday. 

Khobuntin, though, shared it was just a friendly fight as he was just trying to pacify the big man after the latter was seen shouting at a game official with 18 seconds left in the second quarter. TNT was trailing by seven at the time, 41-48. 

"Wala naman, kasi high emotions kasi una ang pangit ng laro namin so ayun, friendly fire lang naman ‘yun. Sobrang tagal ko nang kilala si Poy," Khobuntin told reporters.

"Sabi ko tama na kasi baka madalawang technical foul pa eh so sobrang importante sa game ng taong ‘yan. So ‘yun lang ‘yon."

Khobuntin admitted he was taken aback at first by Erram's reaction but said they quickly patched things up as they were hoping to secure a commanding 3-0 series lead over the gutsy Elasto Painters and move a win away from booking a finals spot. 

"Siyempre, tao lang din naman ‘to. Buti nga na-control din ‘yung emotions kasi nasa middle ka ng game so sayang naman tsaka dikit pa," he added.

"Kasi una hindi siya tinatawagan ng foul, ‘yun ‘yung feeling niya. Medyo maraming hawak sa kanya at hindi napapansin ng refs, syempre halo-halo na ‘yung emotions niya. Nag-clash lang din siguro [‘yung emotions namin]."

TNT eventually lost as Rain or Shine gutted out a 103-98 win behind Adrian Nocum, Deon Thompson, Caelan Tiongson, and Anton Asistio. 

Erram finished with 10 points, four rebounds, and two assists off the bench while Khobuntin tallied two markers and five boards on a starting role. 

"Oo naman [mabilis lang namin naayos], parehas kaming Bisaya no’n e so language lang namin ‘yung pinagsasasabi namin."

—JKC, GMA Integrated News