Guiao: Officiating lapses ruined classic Game 7

Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, which went to double overtime for the first time in league history on Wednesday night, was a classic but it could have been better, according to losing coach Yeng Guiao of Rain or Shine.

“The officiating did not measure up to the effort of the two teams,” Guiao told the Inquirer Thursday. “Pity, it would have been a much better game for the fans to see.”

Talk ‘N Text wrapped up the seventh title in franchise history with a nail-biting 121-119 victory while consigning the Elasto Painters to second place for the fourth time in the last eight conferences.

Lapses in the decider were the worst in the series, said Guiao, who rattled them off one by one, including the elbow that Ivan Johnson gave Paul Lee in a loose ball scramble and the foul slapped on Lee when Larry Fonacier was calling for time with 13.1 to go.

Guiao also cited the punch in the midsection that Ranidel de Ocampo gave Jonathan Uyloan that the refs ignored and an elbow that De Ocampo also gave Wayne Chism which was just assessed as a regular foul.

“They (referees) could have reviewed it, at least,” Guiao said. “But they let it go.”

The game will go down in league annals as the perfect final act to what could be the most bruising title series of all time, and Guiao said he couldn’t be prouder of his boys.

“We gave it a try, hoping that we could produce an upset,” Guiao said. “To me, it was a valiant effort by my guys and it wasn’t our fault that we lost.”