Guiao slams officiating, pinpoints one referee

Coach Yeng Guiao. PBA IMAGE by Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines – For the nth time, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao had something to say about the officiating.

This time it he named the culprit.

Guiao was charged with a technical foul early in the game for using profane language. The official who blew the whistle on Guiao was referee Rey Yante.

“He’s a bared face liar. Sinungaling siya,” Guiao said after his Elasto Painters took a two-game series lead over Meralco, 92-82, in their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals matchup Sunday evening at Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

“Twice referee Yante said I used profane language, I don’t know where he got that.”

Guiao was also called with the same violation in their quarterfinals match against Ginebra on Saturday just before the Holy Week break.

“You cannot invent calls and he was just inventing calls,” Guiao said. “The problem there is he does some damage and I cannot defend myself.”

After the game, Guiao told PBA Operations Chief Ricky Santos of what has happened and that the league had to investigate the referee.

Also, the fiery Painters coach will request the PBA not to assign Yante to Rain or Shine’s future games, a request that may or may not be granted.

Guiao said that the officiating that they experienced on Sunday may “alter the result of the game.”

He also questioned the technical foul called on Raymond Almazan when the lanky forward bumped Bolts import Josh Davis after a block shot.

What Guiao wondered was why Davis did not receive a technical when the import retaliated.

Guiao cited, again, their Ginebra game when Almazan and Ginebra forward Chris Ellis pushed Almazan and both got technicals.

“Ellis pushed Almazan, but he did not push Ellis and they both got technicals. Where’s the consistency?”

Another instance was when Meralco forward Cliff Hodge blocked Painters guard Jonathan Uyloan on a layup which went out of bounds and Yante gave the possession to the Bolts.

“It happened right in front of our bench, it was clearly (off Hodge) and it was the same referee, Yante, again. The play was in front of him,” Guiao said. “I don’t know if he has anything personal or he’s really incompetent.”

“I don’t know why he’s still a referee here.”