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[av_heading heading=’Baldwin blasts ‘officiating errors’ in finals Game 1′ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin blasted game officials for their miscues in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 79 men’s senior’s basketball best-of-three finals on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Minutes following their 67-65 loss to the De La Salle University Green Archers, Baldwin criticized the referees for missing a crucial call that could have swung the win to their side.
“Thousands and thousands of people, millions around the country expect players to make big plays, while I expect referees to make correct calls,” Baldwin said. “And when they don’t, they need to be called out.”
Baldwin was pointing to a non-call on a foul committed by Green Archers’ Kirell Montalbo on Blue Eagles’ Ferdinand “Thirdy” Ravena III that could have resulted in two free throws in the latter part of the match.
That non-call on Montalbo led to a fastbreak layup by Green Archers guard Jeron Teng with just 15 seconds remaining, giving them a 66-65 lead. Montalbo later sealed the win with a split free throw.
“I’m not very happy with the opportunity that Thirdy had. I think it was pretty clear that he was fouled,” Baldwin said. “We’ll review it and we’ll see if they made the right call, but we already had a look at it and to me, it’s pretty clear.”
“Not to say he would’ve made it, but he would’ve made his free throws. He’s a good free-throw shooter,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas men’s basketball team head coach.
However, Baldwin does not plan to dwell long on the loss as he aims to prepare the Blue Eagles for the crucial match against the Green Archers in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon.
“We’ll work on our mistakes,” Baldwin said. “We got off to a terrible start (in Game 1) and La Salle got off to a great start with a lot of composure and they did things they wanted and we didn’t.”
“We were very rattled in the beginning I think by La Salle and maybe by the occasion, too. Then we settled down and played good basketball for three quarters, came back, made a fight out of it,” he added. “We will bounce back.”/PN
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