Magnolia head coach Chito Victolero hit back at Alaska Aces mentor Alex Compton following the latter’s comments about officiating in Game 2 of their heated 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven Finals.
For Victolero, Compton did a ‘good job’ of getting the officials’ attention in Game 3, where the Aces dealt the Hotshots their worst Finals loss in history with a huge 100-71 win at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
“Coach Alex is doing a good job also of calling the attention of the referees last game. I think nakuha na niya yung attention of the referees doon sa sinasabi niya, na my guards keep on fouling and my guards are playing dirty,” said Victolero on his former Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA) teammate Compton.
“The referees are not calling on our side and the referees are calling on their side. I kept on reviewing the tapes wala namang masama yung mga players ko.”
According to Victolero, Compton’s comments worked in Alaska’s favor ,as his gritty guards Jio Jalalon and Mark Barroca were hounded with three fouls apiece.
In Game 2, where Magnolia escaped with a slim 77-71 win, Jalalon had two fouls while Barroca only had one.
“For this game, the Alaska players were holding my players and they were not calling fouls,” the 43-year-old tactician added.
“I just want consistency. He’s starting to call the attention of the referees. I don’t know what happened.”
Compton called out the officiating back in Game 2, saying that the Magnolia guards were getting away with fouls.
“I have not yet once publicly [commented] about the officiating, but those guys foul a lot,” Compton said then.
“I’m all for good defense. Those two (Jalalon and Barroca) are great defenders. But they karate chop or trip a ball handler, that’s a foul! For some reason they don’t call it.”
With that, Victolero said it’s now his turn to call the attention of referees heading into Game 4.
“Call ko rin attention nila,” he declared.
Victolero cleared that he holds no grudges against Compton, though, saying that all he wants is consistency from the officials.
“That’s the reason we’re playing hard, wala kaming nabago. Bakit ganun, now I call the attention even on their press (defense), marami ring hawak. I reviewed the tapes, ganun din,” he cleared.
“Siguro ‘di namin puwede gawin depensa namin, depensa nila puwede. Now, siguro let’s be consistent. Yun ang request ko dyan, kung di tatawagan samin, wag tatawagan sa kanila, kung tatawagan kami, tawagan din sila.”
In Game 3, the Hotshots had 27 fouls compared to Aces’ 24 compared to their 21-18 gap in Game 2.
Nevertheless, Victolero said he is not taking away the credit from Alaska, who outplayed Magnolia this Game 3.
“We give credit to the Alaska team. They came up prepared for this game,” he said.
“They are aggressive and their energy na binibigay nila, siguro medyo ‘di kami makasabay.”
Despite the loss, Magnolia still lead the race-to-four duel, 2-1. They have chance to take a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4 this Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
