IT was a small moral victory for Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao.
The PBA suspended one of the three referees that officiated Game One of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals series between the Elasto Painters and Converge FiberXers.
Commissioner Willie Marcial refused to name the game official who has been reprimanded, but said the referee has been barred from calling any games for the rest of the conference, or what the league referred to as ROTC.
READ Guiao wants PBA refs probed for three quick fouls on import
The four referees who officiated the game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum were Rommel Gruta, Mardy Montoya, Joel Baldago, and Irewin Traballo.
Guiao complained about the officiating in the series opener last Wednesday, zooming in on the three straight fouls called on import Deon Thompson early in the third quarter including his sixth and final foul with 8:34 to play.
The veteran coach believed the turn of events decided the outcome of the game which Rain or Shine lost, 130-118.
“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 na siya ng tatlong sunud-sunod na maninipis na mga tawag.”
Marcial said the official suspended was the one who whistled Thompson his fourth foul of the game.
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