MANILA – Negrense center Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco Bolts denied accusing referees of game rigging in their 91-84 defeat to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 3 of their 2020 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup semifinals on Sunday night.
The Bacolod City-native said he was not the one who shouted the words, ‘Ref, lutong luto ‘to ah’ during the game’s fourth quarter after he was tagged with a personal foul and technical foul for continuous complaining.
“Sure ako, hindi ako ang nagsabi ‘nun,” Hugnatan said in an interview with SPIN.ph. “Hindi ko na pinapansin mga ‘yan (bashers). Alam ko naman kung ano ang totoo. Kasi kapag pinansin mo pa ‘yan, baka ma-stress ka lang.”
“Sa akin, okay lang naman ‘yun. Alam ko ang totoo. Sila, nakita lang nila sa TV ‘yung nangyari. Hindi ko rin sila masisisi. Opinion nila ‘yun. Hindi ko hawak ang nasa isip at puso nila. Sa akin, okay lang ‘yun. Basta ako, alam ko ‘yung totoo,” he added.
The former Bacolod Slashers center further said he cannot blame the fans watching at home and over at the internet because he was the one who was shown on screen moments after the words were heard by the live audience.
“Nagkataon lang na ako ‘yung nandoon na parang nagrereklamo. Narinig nila siguro ‘yung salita na ‘yun tapos timing na ‘yung camera, nasa akin kaya lahat ng nanonood, akala nila ako ang nagsabi,” said Hugnatan.
“Hindi naman totoo. Walang problema sa akin ‘yun. Sa lahat ng nagsabi nun malalaman nila ang totoo,” he added. “Kapag nalaman nila na hindi pala ako ang nagsabi, ‘wag kayo mag-alala, love ko pa rin kayo.”
The PBA Commissioner’s Office is currently conducting its probe to determine who among the players, coaches and other persons inside the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Pampanga uttered the accusing phrase.
The league is expected to meet a hefty fine to whoever said those words just like what punishment they had slapped on previous players and coaches who accused the league of being rigged./PN
