Rain or Shine ElastoPainters head coach Yeng Guiao. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — The Rain or Shine ElastoPainters failed to maintain their double-digit advantage which eventually led to a Game 1 loss in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
The Yeng Guiao-mentored team led by as much as 17 against the Converge FiberXers but went on to absorb a 130-118 loss, giving Franco Atienza’s squad a virtual twice-to-beat advantage in the series.
READ: Converge turns back Rain or Shine for 1-0 lead in q'finals
For Guiao, however, the officiating that played a huge factor in Converge picking up the pivotal win in this best-of-3 series, especially since Deon Thompson prematurely exited the contest in the third period.
“As long as nakadikit ka pa rin, okay eh. Ang point na ikanatalo namin, yung nawala yung import namin,” the fiery mentor said before exiting the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday. “May chance pa kami manalo nung tinanggal nila yung import namin.”
Already holding three fouls, Thompson was hit with three consecutive calls early in the third canto — at the 11:01 mark, the 8:54 mark, and at the 8:34 mark, all against Converge import Cheick Diallo.
“From three fouls to six fouls in less than three minutes? Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganon sa buong buhay ko sa PBA, ganong kaninipis, tapos itatawag ng sunod-sunod. Hindi mo hindi man lang nakapasok yung replacement niya. May replacement na siya eh,” he added.
Coach Yeng continued to air his frustrations and even pointed out the possibility of a formal complaint.
"Actually, the referees decided the result of the game in that situation,” he said. “Kaka-start lang ng third quarter, tinawagan siya nang tatlong sunod-sunod na ganon kanipis."
“So, I'm not sure. I think the PBA should investigate those referees. Sila nag-decide ng laro eh. Dikit ang laro noon eh. So, magre-remedyo ko na lang after that. Maganda sana yung laban. Tapos kung ganun natatawagan nila, dapat sobrang dami ng fouls na tatawagan nila.”
“Katakataka, ‘di makatarungan, so pag uusapan namin kung kailangan ng formal complaint doon. Pero the mere fact na nakita ng lahat kung anong nangyari, I don't think na those are playoff calls. Import, bibigyan mo ng tatlong sunod-sunod na fouls?”
He also commented on the PBA’s landing spot rule which eventually resulted in Thompson fouling out.
“Pati yung rule natin sa landing spot, ridiculous na eh. Ikaw yung nandun, yung tumatalon, isang paa nag-land, tapos isang paa habulin yung paa,” he said.
“So, it's becoming ridiculous. Yung dume-depensa, walang kalaban-laban. Kung tatalon ako, ang intention ko is mag-land doon sa paa mo, yung iu-una ko yung isa kong paa, tapos yung isa kong paa, ila-land ko sa paa mo na nandun na, kasalanan mo.”
"Tama ba yun? It's ridiculous. It's getting ridiculous. That landing spot? ‘Di nila alam i-apply eh, kung paano. ‘Di nila alam, basta natapakan yung paa mo. Eh kung ako tumatalon, tapos tatapakan ko yung pangalawang paa ko doon sa paa mo? That is exactly what happened. I think kailangang, kailangang i-review yung mga rules. Ridiculous na," he added.
Despite these, the multiple-time PBA champion coach is turning his focus on Game 2 as they look to even the series and avoid early elimination.
“Anyway, ‘di pa naman tapos,” he said. “Mayroon pang Friday. Pero ang sayang. It could have been a better game if it had just been well-officiated. Ang nagpa-pangit ng laro yung mga referee,” he ended.
Game 2 of the series is on Friday, February 7, 7:30 p.m., at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
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