De La Salle University Green Archers head coach Aldin Ayo and Far Eastern University head coach Nash Racela, both proven winners and fierce competitors, rarely see eye-to-eye. But Saturday afternoon, the two champion coaches found something they could agree on. And it had something to do with officiating.
During the first half of the highly-anticipated rematch between the Tamaraws and the Green Archers, the two squads figured in a physical encounter. The two teams combined for 19 first half fouls and the referees allowed the two teams to grind it out.
However, prior to the start of the third canto, the game officials ushered Ayo, FEU assistant coach Eric Gonzales, and the team captains to the sidelines.
“I was pissed off during that conversation that we had in the middle of the court before the third quarter started because one of the refs said, ‘Coach pag di na namin kinaya, tatawagan na namin,'” Ayo disclosed after La Salle’s 73-67 win over FEU.
“[Prince] Orizu had three fouls early. I think they (referees) wanted to adjust. I don’t know why. You can’t be consistent from the first half? I think that’s a concern for most of the things,” Racela added in a separate interview.
“If you call it physical the first half, you have to call it physical in the second half.”
Just like Racela, Ayo questioned why there would be inconsistency over the calls from the first 20 minutes of the game compared to the final 20 minutes or so.
“What does that that mean? Ibig sabihin discretion na pag hindi namin kinaya… Ano yun pakiramdaman? Wala ba tayong rules dito sa basketball? Anong klaseng decision yun? Yun lang?,” he added.
Ayo expounded on his statements, citing the difference between the fouls called on Cameroonian student-athlete Ben Mbala compared to the rest of the league.
“Sabi ko nga sa refs, patayin na lang nila si Ben [Mbala] e. Kasi anong klaseng foul ang bibigay kay Ben? Malakas katawan nito. Ang gusto nila malakas rin na foul para tumawag ng foul,” he furthered. “Kung mahina na player bigyan mo ng mahina na foul, foul na rin? Uniform ba yun? Dapat uniform tawagan regardless kung malakas o mahina player.”
On the other end, Racela also questioned why foreign student-athlete Prince Orizu was assessed with three quick fouls during the second frame of the game
“That’s a concern if they called the third foul on Orizu in the second quarter,” he remarked.
The FEU mentor said it best when he declared that there should be a conversation about the matter. And it should happen as soon as possible.
“They should do something about it. All we could do [as coaches] is call their attention,” Racela asserted.
