Drama is brewing in the sports scene — not from player trades, but from reporters covering the beat.
Rappler sports journalist Naveen Ganglani called out veteran sports reporter Snow Badua for his online remarks where he allegedly made racist taunts and threatened verbal violence, after both reporters released contrasting updates regarding the transfer of the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors’ Kyle Paranada.
Screenshots showed Badua referring to Ganglani as bumbay while in a conversation with another follower, and said he would hurl curses at the Rappler sports reporter if Ganglani’s account is proven to be incorrect.
“If bumbay is electrocuted, I will curse him all day long on April 1,” a screenshot of Badua’s comment read, translated into English.
Bumbay is a Filipino derogatory term referring to people of Indian origin. Ganglani is of Indian descent and was born and raised in the Philippines. Na-kuryente, which literally translates to getting electrocuted, is local media jargon that refers to a reporter publishing an inaccurate news report.
The conflict arose after Badua reported that Paranada, UE’s star shooter, was leaving the university to transfer to another team. Meanwhile, Ganglani reported that Paranada was staying with the Warriors based on an interview with head coach Jack Santiago, which was shared by the UE Red Tribe, the Warriors’ official fan page.
“Users tagged Snow asking about his previous report being wrong. This was one of his replies,” Ganglani explained in a follow-up tweet.
Badua took wind of Ganglani’s call-out and defended himself, saying that he had no intention of beefing with the Rappler reporter.
“Ok, thank you for explaining the context properly. That helps me understand it better. Still – I don’t think it’s ok to tell people in public spaces that you’ll curse them out for entire days. But that’s me. You do you. Also, I don’t care at all if you get mad or not,” the Rappler reporter replied.
In response, Badua also asked Ganglani not to “lecture [me] on how [I] deal with trolls,” adding, “once you’re on my level, you will understand.”
Elaborating further, Badua said, “Compare our followers both here and on Facebook. Then if you still have time [sic] ask, @spinph how my stories are raking in millions of views, then check yours with rappler. That’s the level I am talking about. Happy now?”
Badua also seemingly made light of his bumbay remark, as he explained below:
He also retweeted a follower who said that he didn’t find anything wrong with the term bumbay, as when one is called the term, it supposedly means they have nice eyes.
“Correct. I don’t know with these pa-woke Indians,” Badua added.
Users asked Ganglani not to mind Badua as he is supposedly known for his string of problematic behavior.
“Just trying to be relevant. He was banned from covering the PBA, if I’m not mistaken,” one follower said. Badua was banned from covering the Philippine Basketball Association for his unfounded tweets against Barangay Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua, where PBA commissioner Chito Narvasa called his actions “irresponsible and deplorable.”
