MANILA – Meralco Bolts forward Cliff Hodge shrugged off Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao's assertion that he is "the dirtiest player in the league" after their PBA Governors' Cup clash on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
After the Elasto Painters escaped with an 85-83 win over Hodge and the Bolts, Guiao had branded the veteran Meralco forward as a "danger to other players."
READ: Guiao says Hodge 'dirtiest player' in the PBA
His comments came as Hodge was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Adrian Nocum with 4:06 left in the third quarter.
The 38-year-old forward did not seem surprised by Guiao's remarks, noting that this is not the first time that the famously fiery mentor had criticized him.
"I was coming in to take a charge and Coach Yeng 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.
Four years ago, Guiao criticized Hodge for a flagrant foul on a masked Kevin Alas, an incident the latter denied was intentional.
In 2014, the Rain or Shine mentor also called Hodge a danger to the league along with a derogatory remark, which the former later apologized for.
Following the collision, both Hodge and Nocum were visibly in pain before being helped off the court by their teammates.
The 38-year-old forward shared with reporters what happened from his point of view.
"I saw him coming full speed. I went in to take a charge and at the moment, I was going to take a charge, he sidestepped. [He] sidestepped right into my knee and then he dished it and so then we both went down," he explained.
Despite the loss and scary collision, Hodge was in good spirits leaving the Big Dome.
"I mean Coach Yeng is Coach Yeng. You guys know, everyone knows, the world knows. But yeah, 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 said.
Hodge and the Bolts look to bounce back this Friday when they clash with the Magnolia Hotshots at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.