Chito Victolero to Alex Compton: ‘Referees decide what’s a foul, not coaches’

MANILA, Philippines—The finals series between Magnolia and Alaska in the PBA Governors’ Cup has officially provided action from all fronts.

It’s not just the basketball that’s entertaining—what with all the pure athleticism and physical play between two teams—but also the verbal exchanges between head coaches Alex Compton and Chito Victolero.

Alaska won Game 4 90-76 to tie the series at 2-2 in a heated game that prompted Compton to call out some of Hotshots for allegedly throwing punches at his players.

“Jio [Jalalon] punched us, somebody punched Mike in the testicles, somebody punched Chris in the testicles, at what point is that going to be called? I don’t know,” said Compton during his post-game press conference Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Victolero, who accused Compton of calling the referees’ attention after Game 2, hit back saying the Alaska coach doesn’t have the right to make calls during the game.

“He’s just saying it, he’s not a referee, he’s a coach,” said Victolero in Filipino. “I think it’s beyond our control and the referees will decide what’s a foul, what’s a flagrant foul, and what’s not a flagrant foul.”

There was no question that Game 4 was one physical matchup with Magnolia import Romeo Travis needing a couple of stitches near his right eye to close a wound he suffered when he drove to the basket in the third quarter.

What made the fourth game of the series truly remarkable was the heated exchanges between Alaska guard Chris Banchero and Magnolia floor general Mark Barroca.

The two went at it for much of the second half but it was Barroca who landed the decisive blow when replays showed he hit Banchero in the groin with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Victolero said there’s nothing wrong with being physical especially in a championship atmosphere like the one they’re in, but what he can’t accept is the constant complaining on the referees.

“Both players are only being physical, there’s nothing wrong with that,” said Victolero. “Still coaches cannot decide on what’s a foul. The referees are doing their jobs so I think they did a good job today. If we keep on complaining against the referees then there won’t be an end to this series.”