CONVERGE coach Delta Pineda rued the amount of fouls slapped against them after the FiberXers' costly defeat against NLEX on Saturday in the PBA 50th Season Commissioner's Cup.
The FiberXers' bid for a quarterfinal berth ended with a 100-81 defeat against the Road Warriors, as their win-loss record dropped to 4-7.
READ: Schonny Winston haunts old squad as NLEX shows Converge the door
While he accepted the defeat, Pineda lamented the disparity in fouls and free throws during the game, especially in the second half where Converge shot just one free throw which came in the third.
NLEX, meantime, was 12-of-15 at the foul line on both occasions in the third and fourth quarter.
The FiberXers also had more fouls in the second half, 20-4, that led to a 32-14 total in fouls the whole game.
Converge import Donovan Smith fouled out of the game, while Archie Concepcion and Alec Stockton had five fouls apiece in the contest.
“Hindi kami maka-depensa, siguro doon ang problema,” said Pineda. “Kita niyo naman yung diperensya ng tawag. 20 is to 4 (fouls). Hirap yung mga bata. Puro foul trouble lahat halos yung mga bata. Third quarter alone, yung free throw na nabigay, ang dami.”
Pineda spoke to a referee at center court right after the FiberXers' defeat against the Road Warriors where he urged them to review the calls.
“Pakiusap ko lang naman na tignan nila yung diperensya. Hindi naman ako humihiling ng pabor. Sana ma-observe kaagad especially third. Pansinin niyo yung diperensya. Siyempre ang laking bagay din sa mga bata. First, foul trouble. Then, mawawala talaga sa focus. Nahihirapan talaga.”
“Pakiusap ko lang naman. Same thing nung nangyari last December diba na sa ganyang crucial sitwasyon na do-or-die sa amin,” said Pineda, referring to Converge's quarterfinal series against Barangay Ginebra.
Pineda admitted that he was already telling his players to stop complaining, but also can't blame them since they were having a hard time on defense since they were adjusting to how the game was being called.
“Ni-remind ko lang (referees). Please check kung paano yung naging distance ng calls dahil mafu-frustrate yung mga bata. Hindi sila makagalaw, the way they play difference tapos pito, and then opposite side, nag-eexpect yung mga bata. Sinasabi ko na wag na mag-reklamo. Hindi puwedeng fofocus kayo na tawagan kayo ng tawagan,” he shared.
Converge will close the eliminations against Blackwater on May 9 at the Ynares Center-Antipolo.
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