TIM Cone was ejected in the waning seconds of Ginebra’s PBA Philippine Cup game against Meralco after being whistled for back-to-back technical fouls.
Cone received his second T in the final 32 seconds after entering the court and complaining to the referees with the Bolts leading, 79-73.
It was the Ginebra coach's first ejection of the season.
READ Meralco outlasts Ginebra as Cone thrown out
He was initially assessed his first technical when he protested the move of Cliff Hodge diving in front of Scottie Thompson to prevent the Ginebra guard from scoring off a transition play in the final 1:23 and Meralco on top by seven.
The Bolts won the highly-physical and emotional game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, 82-73, to make the quarterfinals.
Cone begged off from giving his thoughts about the officiating and the loss that denied Ginebra an outright berth in the playoffs.
Meralco coach Luigi Trillo, who worked with Cone for a long time while the two were still at Alaska, said he understands the sentiment of the Ginebra coach.
“I understand where he is coming from. It wasn’t like he’s showing anything. I think it was just that moment he was bummed that the call didn’t go and he asked for the technical,” said Trillo of Cone’s second T involving the inbound play between Hodge and Brandon Bates which happened right in front of the Ginebra bench.
The ejection of Cone came a week after TNT counterpart Chot Reyes complained about game officials not calling a technical foul on the Ginebra coach despite repeatedly entering the court to protest a call.
Reyes raised what he claimed was a 'double standard' after getting a T for the same infraction during the TNT-Rain or Shine game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
READ Chot rues 'double standard' after getting a T for entering court
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