PBA tune-up game between Rain or Shine, NLEX halted as former college rivals Arana, Villanueva trade punches

A tune-up basketball game between Rain or Shine and NLEX was stopped on Friday after players Ryan Arana and Enrico Villanueva engaged in a heated brawl at the Meralco Gym. Witnesses reported the fight erupted near the end of the first quarter when Arana attempted a coast-to-coast layup on a fastbreak and was met with a hard foul by Villanueva. A Rain or Shine official described the game as physical, stating Villanueva was waiting with his elbow as Arana went up, prompting Arana to also raise his elbow. Both players fell to the floor, where the physical altercation escalated immediately.

Sources claim that after the initial foul, Arana threw the ball hard at Villanueva, who retaliated by punching Arana in the face. Arana also reportedly threw punches. As a result, Arana suffered a bloodied nose while Villanueva sustained a bruise on his eyebrows, along with other minor bruises for both players. Players from both teams rushed to separate the fighting pair. During the commotion, a PBA referee, identified as Emy Tankion, was accidentally kicked.

This incident reignites a known rivalry between Arana (a former La Salle player) and Villanueva (a former Ateneo player), who were involved in a famous brawl during their college days. Officials from both teams decided to cancel the scrimmage with a few seconds left in the first quarter and Rain or Shine leading 23-20.

Following the cancellation, Villanueva approached Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao (his former mentor at Red Bull) offering a truce. Coach Guiao then called Arana over, and the two players quickly settled their differences personally. However, despite their personal reconciliation, both players still face potential penalties from the PBA since the fistfight occurred during a sanctioned tune-up game.