The outspoken Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao ranted about the referees on the heels of his squad's crucial loss to TNT in Game 4 of the PBA semifinals.
Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao rued the officiating in the team’s 93-85 loss to TNT in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Wednesday, March 5.
Guiao first pointed out what he claimed as Tropang Giga RR Pogoy’s foul on Elasto Painter Gian Mamuyac late in the game that could have changed the tide for his crew.
He was referring to a play at the 2:56 mark of the fourth period when Mamuyac appreared to have lost his balance trying to catch the ball in transition.
Pogoy stole the leather, leading to a three-point play.
“There was a situation na sa tingin ko could have changed the momentum of the game. The results could have been affected. Hinila ni Pogoy si Mamu,” Guiao told reporters after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“Binigyan pa sila ng three points, eh. Hinila tapos dapat 'yun, free throws namin. Naging three points sa kabila. It's a five-point swing at a crucial point of the game.”
Rain or Shine's Gian Mamuyac (right) shakes off the defense of TNT import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (left) in Game 4 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup semifinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Guiao did not stop there.
“Hindi lang 'yon. I think may travelling si Nambatac when he caught the ball and turned on the floor. That's a travelling. They missed that. Converted din 'yon sa kabila,” Guiao said.
“Earlier, si Andrei, na-foul early in the game. Converted din pero hindi tinawag. So if you combine all those points that were bad calls and went against us, that's almost 10 points lost, doon lang sa bad calls. Kahit na malamig 'yung locals namin, kung nakuha lang namin iyong mga dapat na tawag para sa amin, we would probably still have a chance to win the game." he added.
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The outspoken mentor blamed the referees outright in the crucial loss for the Elasto Painters, who are now down 1-3 against the Tropang Giga.
“The referees messed it up for us. And it's such a crucial game. Kasi sa tingin ko, you win this, you change the whole momentum of the series for us,” Guiao said.
“If TNT wins it, they're one game closer to winning the series. Kung kailan pa napakaimportante ng laro, iyong lahat ng tawag ng referees cost us almost 10 points, which were admittedly mali. Maski sila naman, sinasabi nilang mali ang tawag na 'yon.”
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A bad shooting night compounded Rain or Shine’s woes in Wednesday’s game.
But Guiao was unperturbed.
He is confident his wards will bounce back come Game 5 on Friday, March 7, at the same venue.
“Ganoon talaga. Kaya lang mahirap 'yong dehado ka na, malakas 'yong kalaban mo tapos 'yong mga calls, hindi mo pa makuha,” Guiao said.
“So, we'll see. Pero hindi pa naman tapos. May Friday pa. We'll watch the film tomorrow. We'll do walkthroughs. We'll see what adjustments can still be made. Pero hindi pa tapos 'to. Definitely hindi pa tapos 'to.”