‘Unfair’ calls in ADMU-UST game?

MANILA, Philippines – University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio is known by sports media and spectators to be a colorful character.

After a win, he usually steps in the press room with a booming voice and his trademark line: “Naka-chamba na naman kami!” (We got lucky again!)

But on Saturday, October 6, at the MOA Arena, his tone was serious.

“Di naman patas yung laban, ano ba yan. Unfair naman sa amin. Dahil UST lang ba kami, ganon ang tawagan?” the coach told media, referring to calls that he said affected the result of the first Finals game between his squad and the four-peat Ateneo Blue Eagles. (The game wasn’t called fairly. It’s unfair to us. Is it because we’re from UST that the referees called the game that way?)

The Eagles won 83-78 in the first of the best of three series, to lead 1-0.

Crucial calls

He said that never in his years as a collegiate coach has he vented out against game officiating. This time, he said he took offense.

“Binigyan namin ng magandang laban ang Ateneo. Pero wag naman ganun. Sa atin lang, parehas naman tayo lumaban,” he said. (We gave Ateneo a good fight. We both gave a good fight.)

With around 2:30 left in the game, UST’s Karim Abdul and Kevin Ferrer had 4 fouls to their name.

With over 30 seconds left in the game, star center Abdul was called for his 5th and final foul making Jarencio furious. UST was down 3 points.

In the next play, Ateneo’s Kiefer Ravena made the final basket of the game.

Jarencio also lamented and end-game call on a Jeric Teng basket. “Eh tumawag kayo ng foul kay Teng eh, ‘di tatlong free throw yun, pa-free-throw-in niyo, kahit walang oras. Tapusin natin ng maayos lahat. Eh ba’t guilty sila? Ayaw nila tapusin.”

(You called a foul on Teng’s shot, so let him shoot free throws even if there’s no time left. Let’s end the game right. Why are they guilty? They didn’t want to finish it.)

Teng also questioned the decision a few hours after their loss to Ateneo.

To everyone who’ll watch the replay of the game, please tell me what happened in that last play where refs called a foul but no free throws.

— Jeric Teng (@jericteng16) October 6, 2012

Officiating complaints

Jarencio found some support from fans who watched the game, including reitred PBA player Asi Taulava who tweeted on Sunday, October 7, “I’m not taking anything away from Ateneo win. But, I just hated when the Ref wants to be the star. It’s the freaking UAAP Finals let the players play.”

Jarencio said that although they would not file a formal complaint before the UAAP, he told a referee off after the game.

“Let the players decide the game, not the referees,” he said.

This is not the first time that UST complained about officiating. After they lost to the Blue Eagles in their second eliminations round match, they contested a goaltending call on Abdul and a “non-call” on Ateneo head coach Norman Black.

UAAP commissioner Ato Badolato rejected the complaint, saying the decisions were “judgment calls” by the referees.

Black also voiced out concern over the officiating in that game. “I didn’t understand why there were no foul calls,” he said in a post-game interview. -Rappler.com

More on the UAAP Season 75 Basketball Finals:

• UAAP Finals Preview: Ateneo vs UST
• Ravena stars as Ateneo returns to UAAP finals
• Ferrer leads UST into UAAP finals
• The Kiefer phenomenon
• Black is ‘really concerned’ about UST