Even an exciting 104-99 victory over the new-look Star Hotshots on Sunday night could not bring a smile to TNT Katropa head coach Nash Racela’s face, as he believes that another questionable call was made by the officials against him.
“Tinechnical na naman ako ng mga favorite. Paano yun?” Racela asked rhetorically of reporters at the start of his post-game press conference.
The 45-year-old coach, who has earned a reputation for questioning irregularities in officiating, was perplexed at the technical foul slapped on him with 7:24 left in the fourth quarter for stepping on the court.
“Tinechnical ako nasa loob ako ng court, pero si Chito [Victolero, Star head coach] warning lang nasa loob ng court. Anong diperensya nun?” the first-year head coach again asked.
“Hay nako. Alam ko na diperensya, pangalan.”
Aside from the technical he had incurred, Racela also lamented the way the refs had blown their whistle especially in the final frame. However, the former Far Eastern University coach is still thankful that they were able to withstand it.
“He (Glen Rice Jr.) was saying we were in penalty while the other team didn’t have any fouls in the fourth quarter. I just reminded him that the refs won’t adjust for sure, the only thing we could do is find ways to win,” he said.
“Play through it and play above it. Today we did.”
