Ian Sangalang’s eye poke on Aaron Fuller could very well have decided the series in favor of Magnolia. If reports hold true that Fuller won’t be available for Game 3, it’s hard to see Rain or Shine overcoming that loss. They already looked disoriented after Fuller left Game 2 early due to his injury.
But here's where it gets tricky: Coach Yeng Guiao believes Sangalang did it on purpose. While Guiao is one of the most respected voices in the league, it's difficult to agree with this sentiment knowing Sangalang’s reputation. He’s not known for dirty plays, and he doesn’t have a long history of incidents like this.
Still, the damage is done. Fuller’s eye injury not only handicaps Rain or Shine’s chances moving forward but also casts a shadow over what should’ve been a competitive series. Magnolia, already surging, took advantage of Fuller’s absence to dominate Game 2 and has all the momentum heading into Game 3.
Magnolia fans, however, shouldn’t bank on Sangalang’s involvement in this incident as a guarantee of victory. The truth is, even with Fuller playing, Magnolia outclassed Rain or Shine in almost every category during Game 2. Fuller’s absence might accelerate the inevitable, but it’s not the singular factor that’s deciding the series.
This unfortunate turn of events highlights the importance of key player health, but whether the eye poke was intentional or just an accident is something we may never fully know. Either way, the scales have tipped heavily in favor of Magnolia, and the path to a series victory has been made a lot clearer for them.
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