The spotlight wasn’t just on the players in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 Seniors’ Basketball Semifinals — it was also on the referees.
A series of crucial late-game sequences sparked debate over officiating, ultimately shaping the nail-biting 77-75 victory that evened the series between San Beda University and College of Saint Benilde at 1-all.
With the Red Lions clinging to a narrow 75-73 lead, Bryan Sajonia attempted a dagger layup to seal the game, only to absorb heavy contact from Ian Torres and Shawn Umali in the paint.
A physical box-out saw Umali and Jomel Puno hit the floor, but no whistle interrupted play.
Benilde capitalized, as Justine Sanchez sliced through the defense for a game-tying layup.
Torres then drilled a buzzer-beating floater, scoring seven of the team’s last nine points, to force a rubber match.
Earlier in the contest, another controversial moment unfolded in the second quarter.
Joe Celzo was whistled for a foul on Shawn Umali’s three-point attempt after landing in the shooter’s space.
Celzo, visibly protesting with hands raised, was subsequently assessed a technical foul — a call that drew loud reactions from the San Beda faithful, who chanted “luto” during the review.
Despite the officiating drama, San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta chose to focus on what his team could control: discipline on defense.
“As I said, something that we can control is playing more defensively and more disciplined. Yung tawag ng referees, they’re gonna call whatever they want. We can’t give them a reason to blow yung whistle,” Escueta said postgame.
“That’s out of our control, but we can control is yung disiplina namin — should we be going for the ball and how should we box out,” he added.
Escueta’s confidence heading into Sunday’s do-or-die Game 3 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum stems from the fact that his team nearly won Game 2 despite half of its rotation being in foul trouble by halftime.
Sajonia, Daniel Celzo, and Bismark Lina each had three fouls, while Nygel Gonzales and team captain Yukien Andrada had two in the first 20 minutes.
“We have to play more disciplined in terms of defense. Sabi ko nga na we almost won with our key players nakaupo sa bench for half of the game. Kaya we have to keep them inside,” he said.
“They have to be inside, playing, lalo na sa Game 3 na do-or-die. Hopefully, we ‘do’ and they allow us to keep our players inside the court.”
Escueta also acknowledged minor differences in how games were called.
“Of course, with the consistency from last game. Noong Game 1, medyo iba yung officiating, kaya kailangan matuto kami mag-adjust. Medyo magkaiba ‘eh compared sa game today,” said Escueta.
“No excuses though, what we can control is how we play defense.”
