SMART CLARK GIGA CITY--Alaska head coach Jeff Cariaso did not hide his disappointment to TNT consultant Mark Dickel following the horrible incident that happened to Abel Galliguez.
With the Tropang Giga way ahead 86-69 with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter of their quarterfinal tiff, Galliguez went up for a hard challenge on Ray Parks Jr., resulting in a mid-air collision that saw the Aces' guard fall to the hardcourt with head first.
Parks also had a bad fall but was able to get back up. Galliguez, however, suffered a nasty gash above his left eyebrow and was stretchered off the court before heading to the hospital on a wheelchair.
A commotion ensued at midcourt, with Cariaso apparently talking to someone from the TNT bench.
Cariaso later admitted he was talking to Dickel who he said was asking for a flagrant foul penalty one (F1) on Galliguez.
Later on, Galliguez was assessed with a regular foul.
"Kausap ko si Dickel. Hindi ko na siya itatago. Kausap ko kasi kawawa naman 'yung bata. Nilabas na 'yung stretcher, alam natin most likely pupuntang hospital, super laki ng gash sabi ng trainer tapos naghahanap pa siya ng F1. So doon ako medyo naging upset," Cariaso fumed.
"We all want to win, but you win the right way. You have to be a little bit sensitive to the players on the court. 'Yun lang. Doon lang ako nag-react kasi naghahanap pa siya ng F1," added the 48-year-old mentor.
Alaska eventually bowed out of the PBA Philippine Cup after absorbing a 104-83 beatdown to the third seed TNT.
The Tropang Giga will face the winner between Phoenix and Magnolia in the best-of-five semifinals.
Cariaso said the team will wait for Galliguez to come back to the Quest Hotel before leaving the bubble with him.
"From what I recall, he really hit his head, his face on the ground. It didn't look good. We're really worried about him. We're praying for him," he said.
"We're not gonna leave him. Abel is in the hospital now. I'm not sure how long he's gonna stay there. Hopefully, he'll be back to the hotel tonight."