Meralco Bolts head coach Norman Black could not hide his frustration after the Meralco Bolts absorbed an 81-88 Game One loss to their bitter rivals Barangay Ginebra San Miguel. And he is ready to be fined for it.
“We didn’t play as good a defense in the second half. They made some shots in the second half,” said the decorated tactician moments after the game.
“Just hope we can come out and get a better shake from the guys governing the games,” he quickly added.
With 2:06 left in the game and Ginebra holding a six-point edge, LA Tenorio was able to clean up a Justin Brownlee miss to score the hoop plus the harm. On the sidelines, Black and team governor Al Panlilio questioned the call. The conversation with the official continued until the Bolts called a timeout seconds later, as Black argued that the same thing happened on their end when Chris Newsome was smothered but a foul was not called.
“I think there was some contact that could have been called but wasn’t called and we’re just tired already.
“We played this team in the elimination round and they called it, what I think is, evenly and then we get to the playoffs and Newsome goes to the basket and I think the rule is if there is a contact when taking a shot, a foul should be called. It was just a let-go situation. I don’t really get that,” Black opined. “It was a close game, few minutes to go in the game, those fouls have to be called.
“JD [Jared Dillinger] jumps up in the air, loses the basketball and the ball lands on the ground and they call traveling, nobody’s even touched the ball yet. I don’t really get it,” he added, as Dillinger was called for an error with 2:30 remaining.
Feeling helpless, Black hopes that his impending fine will pay off with better calls come Wednesday when Game 2 rolls around.
“Of course. It’s not the first time. Of course we’re frustrated, I’m frustrated, so what more them. Just want a fair shake, that’s all,” the two-time Best Import hopes. “We’ve been through this before and we just want a fair shake, that’s all we’re asking for. Some of the guys governing the game can’t give both teams, then they shouldn’t be governing the games, they shouldn’t be there.
“But we leave that up to the commissioner after he fines me for what I just said.”
