However, it turned out to be a "game of death" after one of the players in the championship series of the First Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco summer invitational basketball tournament was almost killed.

He got a surprise punch from a player of the rival team.

The punch said to have been delivered by Dodong Bernil, key player of the PRO Health Team of Kidapawan City, was so strong that it made Ildefonso Cabaña of the Kabacan LGU team comatose, reports by the Kidapawan City police stated.

Last Saturday was the start of the championship series between Kabacan LGU Team and PRO Health Team of Kidapawan City, which was held in the Kidapawan City gymnasium.

The Kabacan LGU team was leading at the start of the game. But the team had to catch up in the succeeding quarters with the rival team, PRO Health, making good shots.

The game was getting hotter and hotter, said one of the spectators, when suddenly, Bernil -- eager to shoot the ball -- punched Cabaña who was guarding him.

Cabaña, who was caught off guard, fell on the cement floor head first.

Joel Celis, member of the North Cotabato chapter of the the Basketball Referees Commission (Barecom), said Bernil "was playing dirty and used dirty tactics to get even." (Malu Cadelina Manar)