Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao and Meralco Bolts forward Cliff Hodge immediately became trending topics on social media after the Elasto Painters’ 85-83 victory last Sunday in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The buzz stemmed from Guiao calling Hodge “the dirtiest player in the league” following a dangerous collision with Rain or Shine star Adrian Nocum, who was driving for a layup with 4:06 left in the third quarter. Both players crumpled to the floor in obvious pain — Nocum clutching his left thigh, Hodge his left knee. Fortunately, after treatment and ice, both returned to finish the game.

Hodge later insisted there was nothing personal about the play, saying he was simply trying to take a charge. He also shrugged off Guiao’s remarks, saying the Rain or Shine mentor had never liked him anyway.

The following day, Meralco management issued a statement defending Hodge, describing Guiao’s comments as “unfair, unfounded, and unprofessional.” The Bolts also cited Hodge’s credentials as a former Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-Defensive Team member, saying his reputation has always been built on effort, energy and sacrifice.

Not surprisingly, previous videos of Hodge colliding with players such as Nocum’s teammate Deo Cuajao, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero and Mark Barroca, NLEX’s Kevin Alas and Barangay Ginebra import Justin Brownlee, among others, quickly resurfaced online in support of Guiao’s claim.

As of press time, Rain or Shine had also filed a formal complaint with the PBA Commissioner’s Office, asking it to take a deeper look at the incident and consider Hodge’s history as well.

Guiao certainly had every reason to be upset after seeing his team’s best player narrowly avoid what could have been a serious injury.

But does that automatically make Hodge the league’s dirtiest player today?

That depends on how you define “dirty.” Guiao has his definition. You have yours. I have mine.

For me, a dirty player is someone who intentionally tries to hurt an opponent, does it away from the referees’ eyes and sends an intimidating message to opposing players.

Using that definition, I can easily think of two current active players — both veterans — who would rank ahead of Hodge, assuming Hodge belongs on that list at all. I’m sure most PBA fans know exactly who I’m referring to.

And if you’ve been following the PBA since the 1970s and 1980s, you would know today’s so-called dirty players hardly compare with the league’s old-school enforcers like Oscar Rocha, Johnny Revilla, Abe King, Ricky Relosa, Onchie dela Cruz, Rudy Distrito, Alex Crisano, Wynne Arboleda and Kelly Nabong. Maybe even the great Sonny Jaworski belongs somewhere in that conversation.

We also have to remember that referees are not in the business of assuming intent. They call what they see, review what the rules allow them to review, then make their decisions accordingly.

Whether Hodge crosses the line from physical to dirty is something people will continue to debate. There is no question, however, that his style of play is built around constant contact. He takes charges, dives for loose balls, battles for every 50-50 possession and is almost always in the middle of collisions. Some see those as examples of hustle. Others see them differently.

Yes, he was suspended for one game and fined P100,000 after that previous “wrestling” incident with Lucero. Beyond that, people can judge his body of work however they choose.

If there’s one statistic I’d love to see tracked in today’s PBA, it’s the number of times a player hits the floor — taking charges, diving for loose balls, chasing 50-50 balls, getting shoved or simply sacrificing his body for the team. I have a feeling Hodge would lead the league by a wide margin.

And after repeatedly wiping the dust and grime off the hardwood with his body every game, perhaps that’s the only sense in which Cliff Hodge truly deserves to be called the dirtiest player in the PBA today.