PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and technical committee member Bong Pascual during a press conference after the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 between San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and technical committee member Bong Pascual were noticeably absent from public view during Game 3 of the Philippine Cup Finals on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Castro, who bore the brunt of criticism following the decision to overturn Mo Tautuaa’s dunk as basket interference in Game 1, and Pascual were not in their usual seats at the technical committee area throughout the latest championship contest, which ended with the Beermen winning, 108-88.
READ: PBA stands firm on basket interference call on Mo Tautuaa
Commissioner Willie Marcial did not specify the reason for their absence, although eyewitnesses said both officials were at the venue. It was unclear what roles they held during the game.
Present at the table were technical committee members Joey Guanio, Junior Bengua, and Rosc Teotico, along with another non-assigned “Class-A” referee. The game was officiated by Nol Quilinguen, James Paez, Rommel Gruta, and Jerry Narandan.
PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro and referees supervisor Bong Pascual are noticeably absent from the technical committee table for Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum | @jonasterradoINQ
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Gruta and Narandan were among the officials involved in the controversial Finals opener.
READ: Beermen insist PBA made wrong call on nullified Tautuaa dunk
“If there’s a call that needs to be reviewed, the Class-A referee and the call referee will help each other in determining the right infraction,” said Marcial in Filipino. “If they couldn’t determine the right call, the rest of the crew will be part of the decision-making.
“The technical committee will still be there to assist them, but the final decision will rest on the referees,” Marcial added.
San Miguel Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo and Moala Tuatuaa during Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Officiating came under fire after Tautuaa’s slam, which bounced off the rim before going in with 56 seconds left in Game 1, was overturned into an interference following a deadball situation near the end of the contest.
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The Beermen were supposed to be up 98-97 with six seconds left when the basket was scratched, and the Tropang 5G would go on to win, 99-96.
San Miguel initially considered filing a protest but later backed off after Castro and Pascual held a press conference to explain the ruling.