MANILA – Bay Area Dragons’ Hayden Blankley did not hide his frustration on referees after his team’s 89-82 loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings in Game 3 of the 2022-2023 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday at SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
In an Instagram story, Blankley branded the ongoing best-of-seven championship series as “cooked” in favor of Ginebra as he also pleaded to PBA and to the game officials to make it a “fair game.”
“Got nothing but love for the Philippines and its people, but at this point it’s obvious, just let it be a fair game, please. As the locals would say — it’s ‘cooked’,” the Chinese-Australian forward wrote.
Blankley’s contention was due to the free throw disparity between the two squads in Game 3 where Ginebra was given 38 free throws as compared to Bay Area’s 12 charity shots.
Curiously, in Game 2, it was the Dragons who had more free throw attempts at 21 as compared to Ginebra’s five, while in Game 1 the Gin Kings were given 19 freebies to the Dragons’ 16.
Blankley himself feels to be “victimized” by the referees’ spotty officiating in Game 3 as he was fouled out early in the fourth quarter after being slapped with consecutive fouls. He finished with 10 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two assists.
Myles Powell, the Dragons’ reserve import, also expressed his dismay over the defeat as he urged the PBA and the referees to “do better” with their favorable officiating to the Gin Kings.
“Foul Count 28 to 12 is a JOKE LOL DO BETTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.” the former Philadelphia 76ers guard wrote on his Twitter account. “We shot 10 free throws they (Ginebra) shot 38.”
“Y’all saying we shot 21 free throws in game 2 & y’all only shot 5 proves exactly my point. Something ain’t right clearly the refs making the difference between who wins or not when it should just be a fair called game,” he added.
The Dragons, whose import Andrew Nicholson is doubtful due to an injury, hopes to equalize the championship series against Gin Kings in Game 4 tonight at the same Pasay City venue./PN
