RAIN or Shine coach Yeng Guiao backed Bong Ramos' rant against the referees that led to his summon from the PBA Commissioner's Office, saying the Barako Bull coach had a valid reason to fume over the "highly extraordinary" number of free throws awarded to San Mig on Tuesday night.
The multi-titled Guiao, who also happens to be among the harshest critics of officiating in the league, found it easy to emphatize with Ramos after Barako Bull saw the referees award 29 free throws to San Mig in the fourth quarter alone, compared to the 17 the Energy had the whole game.
"Napaka nakakapagtaka naman din kasi nung nangyari sa game nila (Barako-San Mig). Twenty-nine freethrows? Maski ako hindi makapaniwala," said Guiao, who has racked up fines amounting to over P700,000 in a career that has brought him six league championships.
Upon hearing that Ramos had been summoned to appear before Commissioner Chito Salud on Wednesday for his rant against the referees following Barako's 88-90 loss to San Mig, Guiao said
They Said It!
"Highly extraordinary ang 29 free throws (sa isang team) sa isang quarter (at) normal na magtatanong ang coach. Ngayong nagtanong ang coach ... ipinatawag nila ang coach." - Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao
it is the referees, and not Ramos, who should be made to appear before the league chief.
"Sa akin nga ... bakit si Bong Ramos ang iimbestigahan o i sa summon nila? Bakit hindi yung mga referee?" said the outspoken coach.
"Highly extraordinary ang 29 free throws (sa isang team) sa isang quarter (at) normal na magtatanong ang coach. Ngayong nagtanong ang coach ... ipinatawag nila ang coach," he added.
The Rain or Shine coach, fined an undisclosed amount for flashing a dirty finger at the referees last month during a game against Barrangay Ginebra, said the referees' calls are so inconsistent that coaches and players are left at a loss on how to adjust.
"Minsan kasi yung mga players at coaches hindi na alam kung paano pakikibagayan yung tawagan. Minsan foul, next game niyo hindi foul ... Hindi mo alam kung ano talaga," he said. "Sana lang maging consistent ang tawagan. Linawin kung ano ang foul at hindi foul."
Guiao, a former commissioner of the PBL, also called for for the resumption of regular dialogues among players, coaches, team bosses and the league referees and officials to address concerns over officiating.
The coach also suggested an increase in the salary of referees from the current rate of P40,000 a month excluding game allowance, to encourage more competent officials to join the PBA pool. He likewise called for an expansion of the referees pool to produce more talent.
"Alam ko mahirap maging referee, pero part ng trabaho 'yan. Players improve their games, coaches study their lessons, referees should be competent and consistent in making the calls," he said.
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