By Al S. Mendoza
HERE we go again.
The act of a basketball coach confronting a player making a shot when the game’s outcome was already beyond doubt has taken the spotlight anew.
It’s been a never-ending sight.
Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone has actually popularized it. He loves to complain when he sees an opposing player making a shot deemed already immaterial. Immaterial because the game was already in the bag anyway.
I don’t know if it’s become a habit for Cone. Or is it by reflex?
Ateneo coach Louie Alas has elevated the thing a little bit higher.
On Nov. 7, Alas confronted University of the Philippines’ Jacob Bayla following a Bayla dunk with less than a second left—and with UP already a clear winner.
Alas aggravated the situation by entering the court—a no-no.
Worst, Alas cursed Bayla after the post-game handshake and next engaged UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon in a verbal exchange, ignoring attempts by UP coaches to calm him down.
Because Alas had previously incurred a technical before the Nov. 7 incident, he was suspended by the UAAP Commissioner’s Office for two games—against Adamson today, Wednesday, Nov. 11, and University of Sto. Tomas on Sunday, Nov. 15, both at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
What I can’t understand is why coaches love to resent a player’s wish to score even if the game’s outcome is already settled.
What’s wrong with making a shot when there’s still time to play, anyways?
In the first place, there’s no rule against that.
In the second place, it is every player’s right to make a shot, for as long as he is not violating any rule.
Basketball inventor James Naismith must be turning in his grave.
“There is not even an almanac preventing a player to score a shot at his own free will,” said Col. Sergio Austria (ret.), a keen observer of Philippine sports for the longest time.
Let the Alas case stand as a stern reminder to anyone wishing to be a basketball coach.
But, hey, when will Cone be canned himself for a similar offense?
That’ll be the day.
THAT’S IT Even as Alex Eala sort of ended her 2026 campaign on a sour note after dropping a 6-3, 6-0 decision to American Claire Liu in the Hong Kong Tennis Open finals on Sunday, Nov. 8 (Alex played injured in the title showdown, although she didn’t admit it as she’s too professional), she still took the loss on a positive note—in the process making herself steadily growing in a very mature way. At only 21, she’s indeed progressing in a very professional manner, taking things in stride as she seems pretty aware that one, even if oozing with talent, cannot win all of the time. Losing is part of every athlete’s growth and Alex, gladly, knows this by heart. Overall, Alex did well as she won twice in a season-leading 27 tournaments: in the Lexus Birmingham Open WTA 125 (grass) in England on June 7 in the finals against Czech Nikola Bartunkova, and in the Mubadala WTA 500 Open (hard court) in Washington DC, USA, in August against American hot shot Jessica Pegula. Not only did Alex emerge No. 1 in the most number of tournaments played in 2026, she was also No. 1 in the most number of matches played at 73, seven more than world No. 1 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. And take this: From No. 51 in 2025, Alex ended year 2026 as No. 15. A leap of 36 notches. No mean feat, indeed. Cheers!
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