Phoenix head coach Louie Alas clarified that he only wanted remove Calvin Abueva from the commotion that took place three minutes into the Fuel Masters’ 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup match versus the TNT KaTropa, Sunday night.
Alas was among the four people ejected from the fracas that happened at the 9:11-mark of the opening frame. The incident started when Abueva and TNT’s David Semerad exchanged words after incurring a double foul.
The veteran mentor was seen trying to separate the two, but Semerad suddenly fell to the floor, thus sparking another commotion. The seasoned bench strategist was then called for flagrant misconduct, which leads to an automatic ejection.
“I was just trying to separate him from Calvin because yung nangyaring commotion, hindi naman siya kasali eh. Inaano ko lang, sineseparate ko kay Calvin. Medyo masama yung ano kaya naganun ko pero ‘di ko alam na ganun ako kalakas,” said Alas.
“I’m sorry, pero ganun pala ako kalakas. My god. Pwede na ‘ko sa Avengers.”
Turning serious, though, Alas called on the PBA to improve its officiating. He asserted that there were too many missed calls in the emotionally-charged game that saw TNT win, 114-88, for their bounce-back victory after losing to NorthPort.
Alas cited the incident between Calvin Abueva and Roger Pogoy during the third quarter, where the latter stumbled onto the floor after jogging past the former. Whistles blew, but replays showed there was no contact.
Referees then called it an inadvertent whistle.
Though he appreciates the PBA referees’ honesty, Alas said that they can’t just make the same mistakes over and over. But he isn’t sourgraping, as he had already voiced out his sentiments to the powers-that-be.
“Sabi ko nga kay Eric (Eric Castro, PBA technical committee)… Ito sinabi ko sa kanya, and you can put me on record – sabi ko, Eric, I have nothing against the officiating. I know honest kayo lahat, pero ‘pag paulit-ulit yung mali natin, parang sa player yan. Sa akin ambabait ng player ko pero ‘pag paulit-ulit yung turo ko at ‘di nila natututunan, I have to make some drastic action,” he said.
“Masakit mang gawin pero ‘pag hindi natututo, eh dapat pinapalitan na. Sabi ko walang problema dun sa integrity, walang problema. I know honest mistake. Pero kung paulit-ulit na mistake, eh I dont know. Nasa inyong posisyon yan.”
Alas suggested that the PBA should also invest more in officiating, which he feels will help the league in many ways.
“Minsan magso-sorry lang, pero pag paulit-ulit yung sorry, ano mangyayari diyan? Sabi ko napakalaki nitong PBA, napakagandang institusyon, mag-invest tayo ng maganda rito. Isang investan natin is yung officiating. Dun tayo mag-invest para mas gumanda,” he expressed.
“Ako nga suggestion ko sabi ko, ‘Ang gagaling ng mga Korean referees, ang gagaling ng mga Japanese referees sa FIBA.’ Pwede nating gawin eh. Pwede nating gawin. Gagastos tayo ng malaki but sasabihin ko nga sa inyo, kung gusto niyo mag-an,o baka bumalik uli yung mga ano… Mga interest yung mga audience natin ulit,” Alas added.
“Marami naman tayong magagaling na referee, pero marami ring hindi pupwede.”
