MANILA, Philippines — Citing a blown call by the referees, Perpetual Help head coach Aric del Rosario has decided to put the Altas’ 77-78 overtime loss to San Sebastian under protest Monday night.
Del Rosario said the refs failed to award his team two free throws late in the second quarter after a foul was called against Stags swingman Jon Rebollos on Juneric Baloria as Rebollos sank a left corner triple.
“Yung kay Baloria, sinipa siya. Hindi tinawagan ng offensive [foul]. Counted yung basket tapos tinawagan nila ng foul dapat binigyan nila kami ng dalawang free throws,” del Rosario recalled. “After ilang minutes tinanong ko yung referee ang sabi nakaligtaan daw nila. Pwede bang ganoon?”
Rebollos kicked out his leg that inadvertently hit Baloria in the groin as he attempted the triple. The refs gave the three points to Rebollos but also slapped a loose ball foul against him.
“Yun ang grounds kasi dapat binigyan nila kami ng dalawang free throws kasi counted yung basket. Penalty ang kalaban.”
“Ako, ayoko ng mga protesta protesta pero kailangan mapakita din natin yung karapatan namin,” added the former league commissioner.
The protest will be reviewed by the league’s technical committee.
“It’s something that we don’t have any control of. It’s [up to] the commissioner or whoever is handling that. But as far as we know, Perpetual really gave us a good fight and we commend coach Aric and the rest of the team,” said Stags coach Topex Robinson.