ALASKA coach Alex Compton rued the huge free-throw and foul disparity that spelled a big difference in the Aces’ 73-86 overtime loss to San Miguel Beer in Game Five of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Wednesday night.
The third-year coach was unusually all business in the post-game conference, pointing out that the Aces’ only took five charity attempts in a game that even reached an extra session, while the Beermen had 35 three-throw tries and committed just 17 fouls compared to Alaska’s 37.
“I think that has an impact in the game, don’t you?” Compton said.
Asked if he’s implying that the Aces got the short end of the officiating, the affable mentor was careful with his words.
“No, I’m just pointing out facts,” Compton insisted. “I don’t have to say anything like that.”
Compton also lamented his team firing blanks in overtime, but couldn’t help but cite his earlier concern.
“We missed some shots, but I’ll go back to if a team consistently gets thirty more free throws than you do and gets twenty more fouls called, it’s going to be difficult,” Compton said.
“How you guys spin that or what your opinion is on that matter, I’ll let you be the judge. I have no other statements to make than that.”
“But thirty free throws and twenty fouls is a big discrepancy,” he added. “It’s going to be difficult to win.”