Pido Jarencio blasts officiating in NorthPort loss to Phoenix: Refs don’t decide the game

Sean Anthony was whistled for an offensive foul in this three-point shot that could give Northport the lead with 47.8 seconds remaining in the game. What do you think of this call? #PBAonESPN5 #PBALabanKungLaban pic.twitter.com/MYVEwxlwaY

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) February 27, 2019

Passionate during post-game chats, NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio painted a stark contrast of who he usually is on Wednesday night.

Speaking to reporters on his way out of the Big Dome, the Batang Pier mentor unloaded a couple of terse lines after his team narrowly lost to the Phoenix Pulse, 96-98, in the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup action.

“Referees don’t decide the game,” he said. “Let the players win the game and lose the game.”

READ: PBA: Phoenix leans on defense anew to turn back NorthPort

“Last one minute then you call offensive foul? And in the video, it’s so clear that there was none.”

An offensive foul was called on Sen Anthony just as he was landing from his jump shot that would’ve put NorthPort ahead by three with 47 seconds left. Phoenix’s Justin Chua was apparently hit by Anthony’s hand.

In the next sequence, FuelMasters gunslinger Matthew Wright was called for a charge for pulling Ryan Araña’s jersey on his way to the basket. The latter fouled Jason Perkins in the next possession which led to two made shots from the charity stripe enough for the Phoenix victory.

“It’s a lose-lose situation so I’d rather not comment on it. I’m trusting the PBA office to look into it. I got to reserve my comment because nothing I can say can change anything and I don’t want to get in trouble,” Anthony told the press.

Wright couldn’t help but feel for how such a call nearly decided the outcome of the game.

“It was ugly. I honestly felt we deserved to lose that game,” he said. “I didn’t see a foul when Sean Anthony hit the shot. I guess when they called a foul on me, that was a makeup call.

“But I feel like it was a very strange game, very inconsistent but someone had to win and I’m just happy that we were luck enough to win this game even without Stanley (Pringle) playing,” he added.

Both Wright and Anthony felt that their respective teams could’ve made more effort to carve out a convincing win.

“Highly disappointing but put that aside,” We had chances to pull away,” Anthony closed.