Karma bites back hard

Boy was that a cardiac replay of the contested NU-FEU game. Bobby Ray Parks came through in the clutch while the Tamaraws shot themselves out of it. And guess what, FEU is relegated to a playoff for fourth. Yep. Fourth. Talk about fortune smiling on the favored.

Bulldog Bobby Ray Parks powers his way against FEU defenders Russel Escoto (left), RR Garcia and Roger Pogoy in the replay of the FEU-NU game yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena. JUN MENDOZA

Let’s see how did it happen. Or wait…

To me that was a case, nay, let me restate that, it was a hard case of karma getting back at you. And boy did FEU reap what they sowed.

For all the thuggery, cheap tactics and downright kanto basketball this year’s edition of the Tams showed, well, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. There you go. Now you are fighting for Final Four dear life.

It would not be a cakewalk either. De La Salle University showed it can go rough and tumble with the Tams and bury the near-extinct creatures alive. Heck, The Bear, Norbert Torres, even had an off-game and so did super-rookie Jeron Teng who only put up a modest double-double and shot very ugly from the field. So would this string of bad karma continue for the boys in Morayta? I pretty much say yes please.

Call me a hater. I don’t care.

What I care about is that this team practically made a mess of themselves and of good basketball. Sure, Calvin Abueva’s antics drown these out, but man, he’s just one dude who always gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar. These Tamaraws? Who are we foolin’? Roll call please?

Arvie Bringas would be our valedictorian. This guy did not disappoint spraying his bodily fluids on Justin Chua’s nape. Oh, let’s also include going for the balls when being out-positioned. Then there’s the alleged charge on the Ateneo players’ dinner after the game. Four games and counting Arvie, make em count, your suspensions I mean.

Ray Mark Belo. Our salutatorian. What sets him apart is, this guy is a rookie. Yes, I was all praises for him at the start. No flash, no air, just doing his job and providing good energy off the bench. And then when he met Ryan Buenafe, I dunno what set this guy off on an unsportsmanlike spree. I admit, Ryan Buenafe is a bad, bad trashtalker, but he’s coming from somewhere and proven himself time and again. But this rookie, getting in his mug after a hard foul on Anthony Hargrove and thinking that it’s time to get it on in the cage is well, sad. So much promise, gone in a heap.

Anton Bringas, for his part, is a subtle fellow. Unless you sat courtside, literally on the playing court, you won’t see how this guy hits and cripples his man. Well done. And well, people have taken notice.

And of course, who could forget Patrick Guerrero? Thanks to that guy, the Tams got buried in a stinging 17-2 romp by DLSU bridging the second and third quarter. This guy deserves honorable douchebag mention award. It’s kind of brainless when you throw the ball to Jed Manguera’s head as he tries to help Anthony Hargrove get up after they scuffled for the looseball. Then there’s the Roger Pogoy phantom push too. Stupid is stupid and this is as stupid it can get. Bravo, Mr. Guerrero.

Who can forget Ronald Magtulis? The way this guy acted the past few weeks, it should’ve been him given the ban and not poor Mr. Salva who just wanted to know what Magtulis’ beef is with his son. This guy has been an absolute jerk. What’s your problem, coach? Giving sweet nothings since you got beat by the Eagles by the skin of their teeth twice, make’s you that much of a bittergourd that you have to result to bullying tactics? Shame really.

I’m pretty sure everyone who hates what the Tamaraws have shown this season are whooping it up, me included. I don’t like hooligans on the court.

I don’t have anything against physical basketball. But “skwaterball” as some dubbed it? Spitting and all that hullaballoo? Please.

It’s what FEU deserved.

Betting on a change of character? Not yet.

Well, not until the Bringases graduate.

Karma bites.