THE four-game suspension without pay slapped on referee Jimmy Mariano for his error in judgment in the dying seconds of Rain or Shine’s 81-83 loss to Talk ‘N Text in Binan, Laguna on Wednesday hardly drew a smile from Painters coach Yeng Guiao.
Apparently still steaming from the botched call, Guiao said the suspension slapped on the Class A referee won’t change the fact that the Elasto Painters lost what could have been a “won” ball game.
The fiery Rain or Shine mentor said Jeff Chan should have been awarded three free throws after being fouled 'in the act of shooting' by Jason Castro with 4.6 seconds left in the match - a claim proven right by succeeding television replays.
Instead, Mariano ruled otherwise and ordered Rain or Shine to inbound the ball from the side court.
Paul Lee then missed what could have been a potential game-winning three-point shot in the dying seconds, allowing the Tropang Texters to escape with the win.
“As usual, it (suspension) was a little too late kasi talo na, saka lang siya (Mariano) parurusahan,” a disappointed Guiao told Spin.ph on Friday.
Guiao said bad officiating like the one that happened on Wednesday, ruined what could have been a hard-earned win for the Elasto Painters, who instead, sunk deeper in the standings with their 1-3 win-loss record.
“It (bad officiating) takes a lot out of you,” he said. “Nakakasira ng morale and nakaka-discourage but we just have to get ourselves out of this.”
Guiao said Rain or Shine has been at the receiving end of bad officiating far too often.
“Ilang beses na nangyayari sa amin iyan, but again, the damage has been done and they (PBA Commissioner’s Office) just gives you a little consolation by suspending the referee,” he said.
Rain or Shine will try to revive its Top 4 hopes when it faces an equally struggling Barako Bull side on Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
