MANILA, Philippines — It's rare for teammates in any sport to engage in a verbal altercation or fight especially in the middle of the game.

Usually, it's players from the opposing sides who figure in those fights but that rarity -- teammates fighting -- happened during the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, October 26.

Against the NU Bulldogs, UE's Precious Momowei and John Abate went at it at the 3:22 mark of the second frame.

Momowei confronted Abate with a 'think' or 'focus' gesture which the latter didn't appreciate, pushing Momowei.

Timeout was called but the two players were still at it before being separated by their other teammate Rainer Maga.

Momowei said he was just trying to get Abate's head in the game. He added that it's all love between them.

"Honestly, it's nothing serious. I was just trying to bring him up. I was trying to make him focus on the game. It's all love and nothing serious," said the Nigerian big man.

Abate refused to elaborate what Momowei told him but acknowledged the latter's efforts in holding him accountable.

"I love it because if you have someone that's holding you accountable, it's iron sharpens iron. I'll make you better, I'm gonna make him better," said the 6-foot-1 Fil-Am guard.

End of the day, Abate said that he and Momowei are brothers and their competitiveness gets the better of them at times.

"I'm just gonna speak on my part, that's my brother. We're gonna fight. It's what siblings do. We're two competitive people, we ultimately wanna win. At first we had a little stumble, I turned over the ball and the next possession, I got subbed out. The third quarter, we came back and he passed out to me and I hit a 3, he made a big play, I made a big play, and we made out for it."

Momowei and Abate's little altercation hardly affected the Red Warriors' game, though, as they blasted the Bulldogs, 74-58, to rise to 6-3 and solidify their hold of the third spot.

Momowei finished with 17 points, 17 rebounds, and three assists while Abate racked up with six points, five rebounds, and three assists.