ANTIPOLO – TNT coach Chot Reyes is not pinning the blame on the officiating in their loss in Game Six of the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup finals.
The Tropang 5G squandered an early 16-point deficit to lose to the Beermen, 96-82, to trail the series, 3-2, despite opening the match-up with a 23-7 lead.
Reyes and the Tropang 5G were visibly upset with the officiating of Game Six of the finals including during one incident in the fourth quarter when Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser was called for a foul for pushing Rodney Brondial during a rebound play in the 7:37-mark of the fourth.
READ: Brondial double-double leads SMB to Game 5 win, 3-2 lead over TNT
BGR was later called for a technical foul afterwards.
But instead of blaming the officiating, Reyes said he would rather take a look at themselves were TNT’s second unit couldn’t match their counterpart at SMB.
San Miguel had more bench points, 42-27, with Kris Rosales giving the Beermen a spark. Rodney Brondial, who usually comes off the bench for SMB, started and had 17 points and 15 rebounds to also contribute to the Beermen’s cause.
“Sanay na kami sa officiating. There’s nothing we can do about it,” Reyes said when SPIN.ph caught up with him shortly after Game Five.
“But their second unit completely outplayed our second unit,” said Reyes. “We had a great start, but their second unit, Kris Rosales and Brondial just killed us.”
Officiating aside, Reyes said TNT must also play smart in avoiding fouls and other infractions that could cost the team.
“We’ve got to be smarter. We have to be perfect to have a chance to beat San Miguel. Kapag ganun na we are shooting ourselves in the foot, wala kaming pag-asa,” Reyes added.
TNT will look to stay alive on Sunday when it faces San Miguel in Game Six at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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