MANILA – After Alaska Aces head coach Alex Compton, it was the turn of Magnolia Hotshots mentor Chito Victolero to lambast the officiating in the ongoing 2018 PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven Finals series.
Compton’s public comments on the officiating after Game 2 worked as referees tagged numerous fouls on Andy Mark Barroca and Jio Jalalon in Game 3 on Sunday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Victolero said.
“I think nakuha na niya (Compton) iyong attention of the referees doon sa sinasabi niya na sina Mark and Jio ay keep on fouling and my guards are playing dirty,” said Victolero.
“The referees are not calling on our side and the referees are calling on their side. I kept on reviewing the tapes wala namang [ginagawang] masama iyong mga players ko,” he added. “For this game, the Alaska players were holding my players and they were not calling fouls.”
“I just want consistency on officiating,” he said. “Siguro ’di namin puwede gawin depensa namin, depensa nila puwede. Now siguro let’s be consistent. Iyon ang request ko diyan for this entire series.”
Victolero cried foul on Compton singling out Jalalon and Barroca in his interview after Game 2 last Friday as the Magnolia guards who were getting away with holding and tripping opponents.
But Victolero clarified that he held no grudges against Compton and credited his former teammate for the adjustment he made during their 100-71 win over Sunday evening.
“We give credit to the Alaska team. They came prepared for this game,” Victolero said. “They are aggressive and their energy na binibigay nila … siguro medyo hindi kami makasabay.”/PN