Nash Racela throws shade at ‘perfectly officiated ball game’

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

TNT head coach Nash Racela isn’t the one to shy away from controversial statements directed at the PBA and its game officials.

He was fined P10,000 back in August for in-game statements directed at PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa, and he often voices out his displeasure over calls or the lack to the referees.

And even though Racela took a different approach Friday after TNT’s 106-103 loss to Ginebra in game 3 of the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals, his message was still filled with resentment.

READ: Ginebra nears finals, nips TNT in game 3

“Obviously, it was a perfectly officiated ball game, you can’t really question the obvious,” said Racela with a straight face but with a heavy tone of sarcasm after the KaTropa moved on the brink of elimination in the semis.

Racela was called with a technical foul in the second quarter when his import Glen Rice Jr. got into several scuffles with Ginebra rookie Kevin Ferrer.

The technical foul wasn’t the end for Racela as he exchanged choice words with Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua in the tunnel of the Big Dome at halftime.

READ: TNT pulls even, turns back Ginebra in semis game 2

And as for Racela’s “perfectly officiated ball game,” his KaTropa were called for 35 fouls, 11 more than Ginebra received. TNT also had 14 free throws, 29 fewer than the Gin Kings attempted.

“The referees did their part, did their best, in calling the game,” said Racela. “They made the right decisions. I don’t really question that and I’m happy our players did their best and gave ourselves a chance.”