Why did Menor run away?

The Smart Araneta Coliseum security guard confirmed that Air21 cager Ogie Menor hightailed it out of the players’ entrance gate in shorts like a scared rabbit and went straight to his car in the private parking area at the end of the Express’ 106-77 loss to Meralco the other night. The guard said someone from the Air21 staff brought Menor’s belongings he left behind in the dressing room to the parking lot where the former San Beda cager waited in fear.

Apparently, Menor was sipping coffee and conversing with TV broadcaster Magoo Marjon in the far end of the tunnel leading to the players’ dugout when Meralco import Mario West jumped the iron railing separating teams in the corridor to barge into the Express dressing room after the blowout. From where Menor stood, it looked like West was out to wring his neck for the hard foul he dealt in the third period, resulting in his ejection on a flagrant 2 foul.

Menor scampered for safety and left the coliseum in a hurry. It didn’t seem prudent to stick around and find out what West had in mind. Air21 guard Wynne Arboleda was in the dressing room when West charged in. Arboleda said he was pushed out of the way by West. “The guy’s strong, he’s an import,” said Arboleda. “I tried to stand my ground but when he pushed me, I stepped back.”

According to Air21 insiders, Meralco players Chris Timberlake and Asi Taulava went after West to bring him out of the Express dressing room. Another Meralco cager Sol Mercado tried to cool West down. Since Menor was nowhere around, West trooped back to the Meralco dugout.

The corridor incident was caught on closed circuit TV but West’s entry into the Air21 dugout wasn’t on film. PBA commissioner Chito Salud was at the scene right away and ordered the closing of the glass door leading to the Air21 dressing room to prevent any provocation or altercation. PBA media affairs bureau chief Willie Marcial said both Menor and West will be summoned by the commissioner to explain their behavior.

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About 30 minutes after the outburst, West emerged from the Meralco dressing room unruffled and unaffected. “I don’t understand what the fuss is about,” he said. “All I wanted to do was to shake the guy’s hand, no hard feelings. It was a hard hit but hey, that’s basketball. I wanted to apologize xfor reacting the way I did on the court after I went down. That’s all. I didn’t want to fight him.”

Meralco PBA governor Ramon Segismundo and team manager Virgil Villavicencio said the same thing. “It’s just a misunderstanding,” said Villavicencio. “At first, Mario complained that he was getting hurt by (Bitoy) Omolon, Wynne and Ogie. I told him it’s part of the game, to just play through it and relax. He mentioned how basketball is his living, that this wasn’t basketball but streetball. Then, he calmed down. Mario’s a real nice guy. He doesn’t go out at night. He’s very faithful to his girlfriend and they skype everyday. Mario’s happy eating at Friday’s and Chili’s. The other day, he celebrated his birthday quietly. He’s not the type to pick a fight. He’s the family breadwinner and he takes that responsibility seriously.”

Segismundo said West had no intention of confronting Menor. I personally can attest to that as West himself told me he only wanted to shake hands with the man who hacked him from behind in a drive to the basket. I couldn’t be sure if West was being sarcastic as he got my hand and shook it, showing what he intended to do in meeting up with Menor. In such a case, you can only give him the benefit of the doubt.

West, who turned 28 last Tuesday, gained a reputation as a defensive player at Georgia Tech where he never averaged in double figure points but played a key role in propelling the team’s success. He joined the varsity with Chris Bosh in 2002-03 but redshirted that season. West went on to play four years with the Yellow Jackets, seeing action in three NCAA Tournaments including the finals in 2003-04. Among his collegiate teammates were future NBA players Anthony Morrow, Jarrett Jack and Thaddeus Young.

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Although he wasn’t drafted, West made it to the NBA and suited up for Atlanta and New Jersey in three seasons. “I defended the superstars, Kobe (Bryant), LeBron (James),” he said. “I was known as a defender but I think I’ve got a lot to show in offense, too, which is what I’m doing in the PBA.”

West said he stays in touch with his Georgia Tech teammates like Morrow, Young and Bosh. “Chris and I joined Georgia Tech together but I didn’t get to play until the next season when Chris left to go to the NBA,” said West, a walk-on who was given a scholarship in his second year on campus. “Because of Chris, I’m cheering for the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.”

West checked in to replace import Champ Oguchi after the Bolts got off to a 1-3 start. In his PBA debut, West compiled 33 points, six rebounds and six assists in 40 minutes as Meralco blasted Alaska, 100-95, last June 10. Then, he sputtered in Meralco’s 81-77 loss to Rain Or Shine last Friday, collecting 23 points, 10 rebounds, one assist, six turnovers and two blocked shots in 43 minutes. Last Wednesday, West was back on track as he powered Meralco to the win over Air21 with 34 points, seven rebounds, five assists and seven steals in 43 minutes.

If ever West and Menor cross paths again, will they shake hands or put up their dukes? Unless Menor runs out of luck, it looks like he’ll never come anywhere close to West’s shadow ever again.