Biñan Tatak Gel Beast Motorcycle Tires GameX team owner Monching Talisayon has hit back at former UAAP courtside reporter Ceej Tantengco-Malolos over her criticism of fomrer PBA player Mark Cardona’s controversial “aqua training” post.
Tantengco-Malolos earlier called Cardona’s social media video, in which he jokingly waded through floodwaters while referencing former Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin, a “new low” amid the continuing controversy surrounding the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
She also questioned why Cardona continues to receive opportunities in teams, vlogs and endorsements.
“Can we just not have him on anymore teams and anymore vlogs and anymore endorsements?” Tantengco-Malolos said in a social media post.
Talisayon, however, defended Cardona and questioned Tantengco-Malolos’ stance on the former PBA star.
“Grabe naman tong taong to kala mo walang pagkakamali sa buhay. DIYOS KA BA OR TAO?” Talisayon posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
He also stressed that people should be given the opportunity to acknowledge and correct their mistakes.
“Kahit anong pagkakamali ng bawat tao may chance sila maayos ang pagkakamali nila,” Talisayon said.
Tantengco-Malolos had criticized Cardona after the latter posted a video showing himself in floodwater and jokingly telling Baldwin, “Coach Tab dapat dito kayo mag aqua training. Hahaha joke lang coach tab for content only hahahaha.”
The post drew backlash because of its reference to “aqua training,” a term that has been linked to the water-related activity during the Ateneo team-building trip in Dipaculao, Aurora, where Baterbonia and Adili died on June 8.
Tantengco-Malolos later argued that the sports community should move forward from controversies and said athletes and personalities should be held to a higher standard.
Cardona, who is currently playing for Talisayon’s Biñan-based team, has already publicly apologized for his post. (By the Staff)
