WHEN San Miguel erased a 24-point TNT lead and retook control late in the first game of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, it certainly had all the makings of a classic.
But instead of celebrations, the end game saw SMB governor Robert Non storm the official’s table, before the referees and PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro were booed off the floor by San Miguel fans – Non right behind them with sharp words to bear.
The reason this night ended like it did was a bold decision of the officials to nullify Mo Tautuaa’s go-ahead dunk in the 56 second mark of the game, with the refs making the call on a dead ball, three possessions later, with six seconds remaining in the game.
READ: TNT escapes in Game One as controversial call dampens SMB rally
So instead of San Miguel holding a 97-96 lead with six seconds left, the Beermen found themselves down by one with time running out. TNT would hold on and take the first game, 99-96.
“Right now we’re disappointed. We were down by [24] points and the effort was put into waste,” San Miguel head coach Leo Austria told reporters in a late scrum after the game.
“It was a nice game. We cannot blame our opponents, but the beauty of the game ay nawala.”
Tautuaa’s go-ahead basket can even be considered a lucky break for him as it seemed like he was short on his dunk at first, but the initial bounce of the ball had it perfectly go through the rim to put the Beermen ahead.
That luck lasted for just about 50 seconds – and it wasn’t because TNT made a basket.
“I’m not gonna say much. You all saw the play. I don’t agree with the call,” a dejected Tautuaa said. “That’s the exact opposite of the right call.”
As expected, the drama didn’t end on the hardcourt.
As soon as the officials convened in their dressing room, San Miguel’s Non, together with team manager Gee Abanilla and SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua were there to make their feelings known.
Non, approached by Spin.ph about San Miguel’s next plans, gave a short and blunt answer:
“We’re still talking,” he replied as he stormed off to the press room to watch Castro address the media regarding the controversial call.
READ: PBA refs right to call interference on Tautuaa dunk, says Castro
Austria confirmed that San Miguel has yet to make a decision, as they’ll take the time to review the play intently before taking the necessary steps.
“I don’t know, coach Gee and Gov. Robert are talking with Eric Castro our deputy, so I don’t know. Pinaguusapan pa nila,” he said.
“I think we have 12 in the afternoon tomorrow to file. It will be a decision of the team kung ano mangyayari. We’ll try to analyze the game to see if there’s a technicality.”
Based on their reactions, though, it won’t be surprising to see them push through with it.
Castro and the PBA defended their decision by saying Tautuaa pulled the rim on his way down, but the 6’8 big man pretty much stated that it was within his range of motion.
“People touch the rim all the time, especially on a dunk that’s what happens when you try to dunk, you touch the rim, by the time the ball went in, I was already on the floor,” Tautuaa said.
“That sucks. That’s a sucky way to lose.”
It is indeed.
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