TNT KaTropa active consultant Mark Dickel felt like the referees were inconsistent in officiating Game Three of their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series versus the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel on Monday which they lost.
Officials whistled for 21 fouls against the Texters in their 72-80 loss, which stalled their bid of sweeping their way into the Finals. Had they won, they would return to the Big Dance for the first time since the 2017 edition of the mid-season joust.
That wasn’t the issue for the Kiwi coach, though.
“I got no issue with the fouls we got. I felt like we foul when they drove to the hoop – that’s fine,” Dickel explained.
“But I just don’t see why we get double the calls they got when we’re driving to the hoop exactly the same.
“I just thought the refs, they refereed the game totally inconsistently tonight. I really hope we get a fair whistle next game when we drive to the basket,” he added.
Still, Dickel isn’t pinning the blame to the referees. For him, at the end of the day, the KaTropa also have to make their shots. TNT only made five of the 34 threes they launched, a far cry from their 16 treys in Game Two.
“Naturally anytime we go 5-for-34 from the three – and I was really happy with the majority of looks we got – we’re gonna be in trouble,” he said.
“We gotta make some shots, play a little bit better, and hopefully in Game Four it’s different.”
Dickel also tipped his hat to the defending champions for making it difficult for the KaTropa. TNT actually had a chance when they closed within just two, 72-74, before Stanley Pringle and Justin Brownlee closed it out.
“Ginebra played a really good game. They made some adjustments and made it difficult for us,” Dickel said. “They played a really good game so we gotta give them credit.
“It’s on us now to come back and play tougher in Game Four.”
