UP center Bright Akhuetie lashes out at ‘stupid’ referees in game vs Ateneo

FILE – UP big man Bright Akhuetie, left, talks to his teammates Ricci Rivero, center, and Kobe Paras during a game against La Salle in the first round of the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—University of the Philippines’ Bright Akhuetie didn’t mince words as he expressed his displeasure over the officiating in the Fighting Maroons’ 89-63 loss to Ateneo in the UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament Sunday.

Akhuetie was called for an unusual technical foul in the third quarter, a call that drew the absolute ire and ultimately led to the ejection of UP head coach Bo Perasol.

“The referees were [expletive] no doubt, [expletive] stupid,” said Akhuetie Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. “That kalbo (bald) guy was very stupid.”

Referee Jamie Rivano called a technical foul on Akhuetie at the 8:03 mark of the third with UP trailing, 39-32, but the 6-foot-7 center already ran the length of the court before the infraction was called.

The call riled up Perasol to such a degree that he charged Rivano less than a couple of minutes later prompting the official to toss him out at the 6:23 mark of the quarter with Ateneo ahead, 52-35.

It took several players to restrain the usually mild-mannered Perasol from going after Rivano.

“Trust me I was going to the same thing coach Bo did,” said Akhuetie, who finished with just six points and eight rebounds. “I was going to jump him but I tried to keep myself together because I wanted to win.”

“He was so stupid, he gave me a tech for what?! I was far away from him and he gave me a tech, that was stupid.”