Haters Club

Approximately one year ago, I was at the San Juan Arena watching the quarterfinals of the 2012 Filoil Premier Cup. It was packed arena considering the game is between the DLSU Green Archers and the SSC-R Stags. DLSU is parading their highly-skilled recruit then by the name of Jeron Teng. The Stags are then bannered by "the Beast" Calvin Abueva. Then it happened. On one possession, it was DLSU's ball and its the crucial stretch of the game in the 4th. Close game. Almond Vosotros fired a three. I saw Calvin Abueva and Jeron Teng jacking for position underneath the basket to get the possible rebound. Missed 3. Then out of nowhere, Abueva swings his elbow on the blind-sided Teng. It was a horrible and awful act. Jeron's mother who is watching in the stands rushed into the court and saying "bad words" to Abueva. Then the rest is history. Calvin Abueva was tagged as a dirty player and that distinction has been carried into his PBA career.  But to ask you seriously, what does it take for you to be hated by the fans?

If you have been watching the 2013 Filoil Premier Cup, you know who's the baddest player in the tournament. That is LPU's Andrei Mendoza. Yes, the same guy that was banned a year ago because of his misconduct over a game he is not even a part of. He was just in the stands and suddenly mocks a fight over a former Letran teammate. This year, LPU seems to be into a lot of fights inside the court. There were altercations against Ateneo, which involves Mendoza and Kiefer Ravena. Then, it was UST's turn. It involved Mendoza again and Jeric Teng. EAC Generals was next with Mendoza again for the nth time and EAC's Jan Jamon. Then, the DLSU Green Archers which involves Norbert Torres and the whole LPU bench. 

Really, I don't know what Andrei Mendoza does on the court. I mean, I can't even feel what he wants his opponents to feel. I've been watching him closely but for me, he just plays physical basketball. He is a type of player that will knock you out when you run over a screen. Your testicles will feel every inch of the pain once you fight over a rebound or a lose ball. 

I've been comparing Calvin and Andrei but I don't see any similarities to be hated.  Except they play physical basketball. That's all. I know for a fact the Calvin was hated because he is damn good. Andrei isn't as good as Calvin's pinkie finger, talent-wise. But they are both hated. On a fan stand point, both of them just play physical and rough basketball. But that is part of the game. Sabi nga ni Jawo "kung ayaw mo masaktan, mag-chess ka na lang". For the record, Calvin's idol when he was young is Robert Jaworski. JMP