RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao criticized the officiating in Game One of the PBA 49th Season Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals that saw their import Deon Thompson fouling out early in the third quarter.
Guiao rued the three straight fouls that Thompson incurred, all in the third quarter, the last one at the 8:34 mark of the period, even going to the point of saying that the referees should be investigated by the league.
READ Converge takes Game One as Rain or Shine import fouls out early
Guiao felt that the officiating changed the complexion of the match where Rain or Shine held as much as a 17-point lead against Converge.
“Actually, the referees decided the results of the game in that situation,” said Guiao. “Halos kaka-umpisa lang ng third quarter, a little less than nine minutes, tinawagan siya ng tatlong sunod-sunod na maninipis na mga tawag.”
Guiao said Rain or Shine was about to replace Thompson after getting his fifth foul, but was called for his sixth, causing the import to get disqualified.
“From three fouls to six fouls in less than three minutes. Ngayon lang ako nakikita sa buong buhay ko sa PBA na ganun kaninipis, itatawag ng sunod-sunod, ni hindi man lang nakapasok ‘yung replacement niya. May replacement na siya.”
“I think the PBA should investigate those referees. Sila ang nag-decide ng laro. Dikit ang laro nun eh, so mag-reremedyo ka na lang after that. Maganda sana ‘yung laban kaya lang, sobrang kaninipis ng mga tawag,” said Guiao.
“Kung ganun lang ang tatawagan nila, dapat sobrang daming fouls na tinatawagan nila, lahat ng ganun, tatawagan nila. Kataka-taka at hindi makatarungan,” said Guiao.
Thompson fouled out after being called for a landing spot violation while going after an attempt by Cheick Diallo.
Guiao said that the landing spot rule has become ‘ridiculous as any offensive player can just stick out his leg in order to draw the infraction.
Guiao said he is even mulling on filing a formal complaint to prove his point.
“Pag-uusapan namin kung kailangan ng formal complaint doon. But the mere fact na nakita ng lahat ‘yung nangyari, I don’t think those are playoff calls. Sa playoff tayo. Import, bibigyan mo ng tatlong sunod-sunod na fouls,” said Guiao.
Rain or Shine was still ahead by one, 73-72, when Thompson fouled out. It remained a close game at 104-104, until the absence of an import told in the end.
On the landing spot foul, Guiao thinks it should be reviewed by the PBA.
“Pati ‘yung rule natin sa landing spot, ridiculous na. Ikaw ‘yung nandoon, ‘yung tumatalon, isang paa nag-land, tapos ‘yung isang paa, hahabulin ‘yung paa mo, ikaw ang may kasalanan. It’s becoming ridiculous ‘yung landing spot natin na ‘yung dumedepensa, walang kalaban laban.
"Kung tatalon ako at ang intention ko is mag-land sa paa mo, i-uuna ko ‘yung isa kong paa, tapos ‘yung isa kong paa, ilaland ko sa paa mo na nandoon na, kasalanan mo. Tama ba ‘yun? It’s ridiculous. It’s getting ridiculous. Hindi nila alam i-apply kung papaano. Basta naapakan paa mo.
“Eh kung ako tumatalon, tapos tatapakan ko ‘yung pangalawang paa ko sa paa mo, which is exactly what happened. Pati sa [Alec] Stockton, ganun. Mag-laland muna sila, tapos ‘yung pangalawang paa nila, itatama sa paa mo kahit gaano kanipis ‘yung tama, ikaw pa rin ang may kasalanan kung ikaw ang nasa depensa,” said Guiao.
Guiao said he can live with the fact that they lost a 17-point lead if only the officiating was, to his view, at least, done well.
“Ganun talaga. Okay na kami doon as long as nakadikit pa kami. Ang point na ikinatalo namin ‘yung nawala ‘yung import namin. May chance pa kami nung tinanggal nila ‘yung import namin,” said Guiao.
“Okay na kami kahit na naubos ‘yung 17-point lead namin, wag lang ‘yung crucial, eh biglang ‘yung import mo tatawagan ng maninipis na foul,s” he added.
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