Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
University of Santo Tomas coach Boy Sablan cried foul on what he felt was poor officiating during his squad’s 99-56 loss to La Salle on Sunday.
“I’ve been good to officiating. Wala akong mine-mention sa kanila na biased sila or what, pero this time, gusto ko lang sabihin na alam natin yung galaw nila,” he said. “Ang tagal ko na sa UAAP, kilala ko silang lahat. Sa tagal ko ba naman sa UAAP, eighth year ko na ngayon. Alam ko lahat. Di nila ako pwedeng ite-technical nang ganun-ganun lang. Gusto nila ako patahimikin, eh mali na sila?”
“Kung sinasabi sa akin ng mga referee, wala kaming pinapaboran dito, sila may sabi niyan. Wala kayong pinapaboran? Oo, wala nga kayong pinapaboran pero mali-mali ang tawag niyo.”
UST got humiliated for the second time by powerhouse La Salle.
The two teams, though, combined for 51 foul.
Sablan said the calls proved to be crucial as the Growling Tigers lost hold of their good start.
“Napigil kami sa mga tawag noong first quarter at nakita naman. Halftime, kinausap ko sila. Sabi ko tambak na nga kami, ganyan pa ang tawagan? Pero tingnan nyo noong huli, tawag ng tawag nung fourth quarter. Kaunting dikit, tumatawag. Wala na eh.”
Tied with UP for sixth place at 3-8, Sablan is trying to keep his hopes up as he looks to steer the Tigers to one last push late into the season.
“Very slim yung chance, so hopefully, baka sakali yung last three games namin,” he said.
“Sabi ko nga sa mga players, wag tayong bumigay, laban tayo hanggang dulo. Tingnan natin kung yung last three games, may magawa tayong miracle. Di natin alam, baka magkaroon ng magandang miracle sa atin. Magkaroon ng magandang run tayo sa last three games, so baka maka-anim na panalo tayo.”