Guiao calls Hodge 'dirtiest player in PBA' after collision with Nocum; Meralco denounces tag

As Rain or Shine was facing off against Meralco in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday, Elasto Painter Adrian Nocum collided with the Bolts' Cliff Hodge while he was going to the basket.

Their knees hit each other, with both players grimacing in pain right after the play.

Hodge was called for an unsportsmanlike foul afterwards, before the Elasto Painters eventually won, 85-83.

“Medyo kinabahan kami sa nangyari kay Adrian. Again, it’s Cliff Hodge. Dami nang ganoong insidente ni Cliff Hodge. He’s the dirtiest player in the league, I think and dapat siguro tingnan ng liga ‘yan. He’s a danger to the other players in the game. His record speaks for himself,” Guiao said in the post-game conference.

(We were a little worried about what happened with Adrian. Again, it's Cliff Hodge. There have been a lot of incidents like that with Cliff Hodge. He's the dirtiest player in the league, I think and I think it's time the league looked into that. He’s a danger to the other players in the game. His record speaks for himself.)

Rain or Shine ekes out an 85-83 win against Meralco, but head coach Yeng Guiao says it was not a pretty one for them @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/hb1y1iecvQ

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) August 2, 2026

For Hodge, however, it was nothing personal.

“During that play, I was coming in to take a charge and Coach Yang always hasn't liked me, so whatever he says, it's okay with me. I play hard for my team, that's all I do,” Hodge said.

“Yeah, I saw him coming full speed. I went in to go and take a charge and at the moment, I was going to take a charge, he sidestepped right into my knee, and then he dished it, and so then we both went up.”

“Coach Yeng is Coach Yeng. You guys know, everyone knows, the world knows. I mean, he likes to do that, so I just let him do what he does. That's his personality. So yeah, no hard feelings for me,” he added.

Nocum, meanwhile, said it was just really Hodge’s personality.

“Ayun nga nung pag-drive ko kanina, sinalubong niya ako, ‘yun kinabahan na ako. Talagang solid eh. ‘Yung tuhod niya tumama sa hita ko, sobrang sakit, ramdam ko ‘yung tama,” Nocum said.

“Hindi ko alam [kung sinadya] pero knowing Cliff Hodge, kilala naman natin si Cliff Hodge, kasama naman ‘yun.”

(When I drove earlier, he met me, I was a little worried. It was really solid. His knee hit my thight, it was painful, I really felt the hit. I don't know if it deliberate but knowing Cliff Hodge, we know Cliff Hodge, it comes with it.)

Adrian Nocum on the incident with Hodge @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/rhSHRZlpyJ

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) August 2, 2026

The Bolts, meanwhile, took ‘very strong execption’ to Guiao’s statement.

In a statement released on Monday, the team said it stands with Hodge, adding that it does not condone unprofessional conduct in the league.

“We hold all our coaches, players, and staff to always observe the highest level of professionalism, decorum, and conduct in all the games we play here and abroad,” it said.

“We therefore take very strong exception to the unfair, unfounded, and unprofessional statement that the head coach of Rain or Shine, Coach Yeng Guiao, uttered in public during his post-game interview against our player, Mr. Cliff Hodge, whom he unjustly maligned in public by calling him “the dirtiest player in the PBA.”

The team said Hodge “simply stepped in to try to draw a charge in a defensive stance position,” and the move should not be considered as a dirty play.

“Coach Yeng’s malicious imputations against Cliff are uncalled for and have no place in a professional league such as the PBA.”

—JMB, GMA News