Rain or Shine ElastoPainters head coach Yeng Guiao (left) and Meralco Bolts veteran Cliff Hodge (right). PBA Images.MANILA — Rain or Shine Elasto Painters head coach Yeng Guiao slammed Meralco Bolts veteran Cliff Hodge as the "dirtiest player" in the PBA.
Guiao made the remarks after Hodge was called for an unsportsmanlike foul during their PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup game on Sunday, an incident that forced Adrian Nocum to leave the floor for an extended period with 4:06 remaining in the third quarter.
In the sequence, Hodge's knee collided with Nocum's knee, with the ROS player needing time before being able to return to the game.
For Guiao, the play was no accident.
“Medyo kinabahan kami doon sa nangyari kay Adrian,” said Guiao after Rain or Shine's 85-83 victory. “Again, it’s Cliff Hodge. Ang dami nang ganong insidente ni Cliff Hodge. He’s the dirtiest player in the league, and dapat tignan ng liga yan.”
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Guiao first called out Hodge in 2014, criticizing the Meralco veteran for what he deemed excessive physicality.
The incident came during that year's Commissioner's Cup playoffs, when Hodge hit former Rain or Shine big man Raymond Almazan.
Twelve years later, Guiao reiterated his criticism.
“He’s a danger to the other players in the game. His record speaks for itself,” he said. “Sinaksak niya yung paa niya, kaya tinawagan na unsportsmanlike foul.”
“Maraming incidents na ganon, na I think cause danger to players. It’s been a lot of situations where Hodge is involved,” Guiao added.
Both Nocum and Hodge eventually returned to the game after the said sequence.