PBA: Yeng Guiao calls Cliff Hodge ‘dirtiest player in the league’

MANILA, Philippines–Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao reignited an old beef with Meralco’s Cliff Hodge after calling him the “dirtiest player in the league” following his team’s great escape in the PBA Governors’ Cup on Sunday.

Guiao called out Hodge after a collision between him and Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum during the third quarter of the Elasto Painters’ 85-83 win over the Bolts at Smart Araneta Coliseum, resulting in the two getting hurt in the process.

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‘HE’S [HODGE] A DANGER TO HIS FELLOW PLAYERS’ 😬

WATCH: RoS coach Yeng Guiao didn’t mince his words when asked about Cliff Hodge’s collision with Adrian Nocum earlier.

Guiao says there’s been many incidents of Hodge almost hurting his opponents. #PBA50 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/areOYRvhW5

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) August 2, 2026

The two would later return and were part of the action during the tense final moments at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Sinaksak niya yung paa niya (he stuck out his foot),” Guiao said of Hodge, who was called for an unsportsmanlike foul. “There have been similar incidents that I think cause danger to the players. It’s always been a lot of situations or incidents that Hodge is involved.

“That is why I think he’s a danger to fellow players,” he added.

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His tirade on Hodge came more than a decade after Guiao was penalized for calling out the Meralco forward in an unflattering manner.

Guiao was fined P100,000 after calling Hodge a “mongoloid” in anger over his hit on Raymond Almazan, who was then playing for Rain or Shine. Hodge and Almazan are now teammates.

He would later apologize for the comments, but continued that the “apology does not extend to Cliff Hodge.”