Black scores UST coach over `mean’ post-game comments
Norman Black. Radyo Inquirer 990AM
MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo head coach Norman Black shot back at the post-game comments made by University of Santo Tomas mentor Pido Jarencio in Game 1.
Black didn’t like Jarencio’s tirades and called parts of it ‘mean’ and ‘uncalled for’ in a phone interview Monday.
“The part about speaking in English and that I’m and American that’s why the refs are biased towards me, that’s uncalled for,” said Black.
“If he had only 12 free throws and we had 26, if he was in penalty with eight minutes left, if he had three key players with four fouls in the fourth that I’d understand,” added Black. “We won despite those numbers. The facts don’t back up what he’s saying right now.”
Jarencio was livid over the officiating in the Growling Tigers’ loss to the Blue Eagles, 83-78, last Saturday specifically on a foul called against Karim Abdul and a non-call on Jeric Teng, whom he said should’ve have been given three free throws.
“Kailangan ba mag-English ako para paburan ako? Ganun ba labanan dito (Do I have to speak in English for the refs to favour me? Is this how the game is contested here)?,” questioned a disappointed Jarencio.
“Tinawagan rin si Karim ng mga fouls dun eh…ang sinasabi ko, tapusin natin ang laro, tumawag kayo ng foul kay Teng eh, tatlong free throws yun, pa-free-throw-in niyo, kahit walang oras. Tapusin natin ng maayos lahat. Eh bakit guilty sila? Ayaw nila tapusin (They called fouls on Karim…I was saying let’s finish the game. They called a foul on Teng, that’s three free throws, they should have allowed him to take them even if there’s no time left. Let’s finish the game properly. Are they guilty? They don’t want the game finished properly),” added Jarencio.
Game 2 is set on Thursday with Ateneo shooting for its fifth straight title at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Growling Tigers will try to replicate their feat in 2006 where they also lost in Game 1 before coming back to beat the Blue Eagles in a classic three-game affair.
