Ever since he returned to the PBA, Renaldo Balkman has been a picture of self-restraint and patience. But the Puerto Rican could not believe what had just happened during the final three minutes of Game Five.
“You can see it evident what just happened. You know what I mean? It’s crazy,” recalled the 34-year-old import.
In the final three minutes of the game, Balkman felt that he had been hacked multiple times by the Barangay Ginebra Kings. However, there was no whistled called.
And it was evident during the last 29 seconds of the game. With San Miguel down by one, Balkman attacked the defense of Justin Brownlee and Greg Slaughter. However, there was no foul called.
“You have two offensive rebounds and still not get called? Last three minutes gonna get no calls at all?” lamented Balkman.
“We’re still playing a basketball game. At least you got to play together. Like, stay consistent. Games One through Four, and all of a sudden, you get Game Five and you come out to the bottom and gonna get no call?,” he furthered.
“That’s the wildest thing I’ve seen in my life.”
Still, Balkman – whose 34-point, 20-rebound went for naught – hopes that a game like this will only strengthen the Beermen. And it’s important to be together now more than ever as their backs are against the wall.
“We gotta win. We didn’t lose that game. We didn’t lose. We did not lose that tonight. It wasn’t on us tonight, that was definite,” Balkman rued.
“But, all I do to telly my guys man, keep their heads up, keep on fighting, you know? “
