Meralco Bolts forward Clifford Hodge should consider undergoing a psychological evaluation due to his repeated dangerous plays, including a recent hard foul on Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots rookie Zavier Lucero.
This was the strong message from PBA legend Jerry Codiñera, who condemned Hodge’s unnecessary WWE-like tackle during their PBA Philippine Cup match last week — a game where Magnolia was already leading by a wide margin.
“If you’re gonna hurt people, hanap-buhay factor na ito eh. Kung tatanggalan mo ng hanap-buhay ‘yung isang tao, talagang foul ‘yun,” said Codiñera on his SPORTALAKAN program on DWAR Abante Radyo.
“Tambak na eh, wala nang purpose eh, naninira ka lang, namimisikal ka lang, siguro kailangan ipa-check ang utak nito kung bakit ka naninira ng hindi naman kailangan,” he added.
With a little over two minutes left and Magnolia ahead by 23, Hodge pulled Lucero’s head down during a fast break — a move many likened to WWE’s Randy Orton. He was assessed a Flagrant Foul Penalty 1 and benched for the rest of the game. Days later, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial suspended him for one game and fined him P100,000.
Codiñera also recalled another violent incident involving Hodge, where he elbowed San Miguel rookie Kyt Jimenez, leading to a blowout fracture in Jimenez’s eye socket.
“I can understand that he is a bruiser, he is an intimidator, wants to establish his presence, but do it in a better way kasi kailangan ka ng team mo eh,” said Codiñera. “It is causing distraction sa team niya kasi malakas din naman ang team niya.”
“Baka nung bata-bata ito madami rin ang humataw dito sa kanya sa PBA kaya bumabawi, pero hindi rin dapat eh,” he added.
