PBA deputy commissioner Eric Castro during a press conference after the PBA Philippine Cup Finals Game 1 between San Miguel Beermen and TNT Tropang 5G. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
The PBA on Monday once again stood firm in its decision to call Mo Tautuaa’s dunk as basket interference during the closing seconds of Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals that ended with TNT getting a 99-96 win over San Miguel Beer.
Deputy commissioner Eric Castro also assured the games are officiated in an orderly manner amid backlash from those bewildered as to why Tautuaa’s attempt, which bounced off the rim before going in the basket, was nullified through a video review.
READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel won’t protest controversial call
“I want to tell the public that we in the technical committee are doing our job to ensure the integrity of the game,” Castro said when he and technical committee member Bong Pascual guested the program “Starting Lineup.”
“Regardless if it’s an elimination game, semifinals or finals game, we will do what is right and correct,” added Castro, who moments after the controversial finish said that Tautuaa committed a violation for pulling the ring as he was going to slam the ball.
San Miguel Beermen’s Mo Tautuaa dunks the basket during a play in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT Tropang 5G. The basket was later overturned. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Tautuaa initially gave San Miguel a 98-97 lead with 56 seconds, but it took 50 seconds before the stoppage of play that allowed the technical committee to disallow the basket.
READ: PBA Finals: Mo Tautuaa cries foul as review wipes off key dunk
Castro initially said after the game that the dunk was reviewable had the title opener ended without any deadball situation. But the deputy retracted the statement the following day in the same show.
“We can no longer correct the goaltending and basket interference once the game clock has expired,” Castro said.
Referees Mardy Montoya, Rommel Gruta and Jerry Narandan, on the other hand, missed the interference, which prevented an opportunity for a review on the spot. The play continued until a jumpball was called between TNT’s Jordan Heading and San Miguel’s Chris Ross.
“Referee Mardy Montoya who was in a center position was certain it was not a basket interference, Rommel Gruta who was the trail referee and Jerry Narandan who was in the lead position, were not sure if there was a basket interference,” Castro said.
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Pascual, meanwhile, said that the committee will study the possibility of handing down sanctions to Montoya, Gruta and Narandan for missing Tautuaa’s violation.