PBA suspends referees of Magnolia-Ginebra game

By Robert Andaya

UNACCEPTABLE.

WIth this word, PBA Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro handed out a suspension on the three referees who worked on the recent Manila Clasico game between Magnolia Chicken Timplados and Barangay Ginebra  in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Castro said referees Peter Balao, Mardy Montoya, Joel Baldago, and Julius Medillo  committed  late-game infraction when they failed to call a foul on Marc Barroca of Magnolia on a driving Scottie Thompson of Ginebra  in the Hotshots’ 93-91 come-from-behind victory over the Gin Kings.

Castro’s statement:

“Unacceptable. There was contact. We failed to make a call,” said Castro in his statement.

During the game –  in real time while the play was on, the game crew did not see a foul. The officials failed to call a foul (missed call) on Barroca against Thompson in the last 11.5 seconds of the 4th quarter.

With this, the officiating team overseeing the clash between Barangay Ginebra and Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots are suspended for failing to assess the infraction.”

Upon reviewing television footage, the PBA said it was evident that Barroca made contact with Thompson’s arm while he was aggressively driving to the basket for a layup.

The referees, however, failed to blow their whistle.

Rather than sending Thompson to the free throw line, the  non-call resulted in Christian Standhardinger committing a foul on Jio Jalalon, who subsequently secured the victory with a crucial free throw in the closing moments.

Except for the referees’ failure to call a foul on Barroca, the most recent installment in Manila Clasico’s  rivalry between Magnolia and Barangay Ginebra lived up to all the hype.

Import Tyler Bey led the Hotshots in a remarkable comeback that saw them battle back from a daunting 26-point deficit to pull the rug from under the Gin Kings.

Bey finished with 31 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, for the Hotshots, who outscore the Kings. 58-31. in the final two periods  to steal the victory.

Bey, a prized acquisition from the Dallas Mavericks, also recorded 10 rebounds, five steals, and two blocks in 39 minutes.

His dunk with 3:29 remaining in the fourth quarter marked Magnolia’s first lead at 85-83.

Jalalon contributed 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists, Barroca added 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists and Paul Lee chipped in nine points and seven assists.

For Ginebra, Tony Bishop came through with 21 points and 12 rebounds, followed by Maverick Ahanmisi with 21 points, Christian Standhardinger with 13 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists, and Japeth Aguilar and Scottie Thompson with  12 points each..

However, all five Ginebra starters inexplicably struggled in the second half when Magnolia staged its comeback.

Bey shifted gears after the halftime break, leading the Hotshots to outscore the Kings. 29-12. in the third period, to narrow  the deficit from 35-60 to 64-72.

The game remained tightly contested from that point onwards.   

The scores:

Magnolia (93) – Bey 31, Jalalon 15, Barroca 13, Lee 9, Sangalang 8, Dela Rosa 6, J.Ahanmisi 5, Reavis 0, Tratter 0, Eriobu 0, Dionisio 0.

Ginebra (91) – M. Ahanmisi 21, Bishop 21, Standhardinger 13, J.Aguilar 12, Thompson 12, Pringle 9, Pinto 3, Cu 0, Pessumal 0.

Quarterscores: 16-34, 35-60, 64-72, 93-91.