Tangkay vs Simon in Game 4’s sidelights

The PBL Platinum Cup finals has suddenly got an interesting side duel —pitting Peter June Simon and Jojo Tangkay — which could turn out a major factor in Game Four of the Welcoat Paints-Dash Liquid Laundry Detergent title playoff today at the Pasig Sports Center.

Focus will be on Simon and Tangkay as they wage a personal war in a side dish to what has now become a volatile confrontation between the Paint Masters and the Liquid Power.

Both teams are expected to rally behind their respective star players as the Paint Masters, leading 2-1 in their best-of-five showdown, go for the crown while the Liquid Power seek to force a winner-take-all match.

Welcoat players showed up in Game Three Tuesday wearing bands on their uniform with inscription "Tangkay MVP" — obviously their way of protesting the result of the MVP race won by Simon over Tangkay.

Simon promised not to take all the insults thrown at him sitting down. Tangkay, on the other hand, vowed to prove he deserves the MVP honor won by his Fash rival.

"Hanggang ngayon masakit pa rin sa akin ang ginawa nila pero papatunayan ko sa kanila na deserving ako sa pagkapanalo ko ng MVP," said Simon.

With the outpouring of support from teammates and family from North Cotabato, the 23-year-old Simon vowed to give it all to prove that he indeed deserved the MVP trophy he won over Tangkay in one of the closest contests for the highest individual last Tuesday.

Simon said the insinuation that he did not deserve to win the MVP plum is more painful than the physical pain he’s suffering now. He’s nursing a bruised left thigh.

Tangkay, for his part, said: "Kung hindi ako nanalong MVP, binago ko na ang misyon ko. Sabi ko sa sarili ko kailangan tulungan ko ang Welcoat na mag-champion."

Chino Trinidad, who resigned as commissioner of the league the other day, defended the victory of Simon, saying: "Simon deserved every inch of his MVP trophy. I’m just wondering why they can’t just accept the fact that Simon is the MVP. It’s a mental torture on the part of Simon."

"Simon is a fine young man and is now at the peak of his career so masakit sa bata ang ginawa ng Welcoat players," added Trinidad.

A Fash source said that Simon’s future teammates at Purefoods in the PBA – James Yap, Paul Artadi and Ervin Sotto - have already apologized to him for the action they did last Tuesday.