Black on Pido's tirade: 'Just ridiculous'
“That was just ridiculous.”
This was how Ateneo coach Norman Black reacted Monday to the tirade of UST counterpart Pido Jarencio, who insisted ‘inconsistent officiating’ hastened the Growling Tigers’ downfall in Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series last Saturday at the MOA Arena.
Reached by phone, Black, 54, defended his team against Jarencio’s accusations, saying: “If you look at the (post-game) stats, we entered the penalty (situation) in the fourth quarter with almost nine minutes to go. We had three key players with four fouls – Greg (Slaughter), Kiefer (Ravena) and Ryan (Buenafe). Add to the fact that they had 26 free throws compared to 12 for us.
“I don’t think it’s correct to make statements publicly if you don’t have the facts to back it up.”
Incensed with the officiating, Jarencio was caught confronting game officials at the end of Game 1, and then cried foul before the scribes in the press room.
“Hindi naman patas ‘yung tawagan,” he bewailed. “Niyari kami. Ang ninipis ng tawag, ang kakapal ng mukha. Never in my seven years na nag-co-coach ako sa UAAP na nag-voice out ako against the referees. Unfair naman sa amin. Dahil ba UST lang kami kaya ganu’n ang tawagan?”
Jarencio stressed the fifth foul called on Karim Abdul should have been a ‘let-go’ and the referees should have given Jeric Teng three free throws after getting fouled by Buenafe in the waning moments.
Black, however, defended the officiating, saying: “If you look at the replay, he (Abdul) fouled talaga. It was just a bad defensive execution on their part.”
On Teng’s play, he added: “You can see he didn’t release the shot before the time expired. Even if they call a foul, it should be just two free throws since Buenafe had (made) contact on the ground and we’re in the penalty.”
Asked if Jarencio was trying to make the game officials as a scapegoat, Black answered “It seems more of it.”
“He’s trying to put a cloud on the series. What he’s trying to point out is that, if they lose, that’s because of the officiating. If they win, it’s because of them. Maybe, he’s just trying to force the referees to make favorable calls in Game 2.That’s just pretty ridiculous.”
Reached for comment, Jarencio sounded adamant: “Pakialam ko sa kanya. ‘Yan lang masasabi ko. Basta kami ready naman.”
The intense word war between both coaches is expected to stoke the fire when the Blue Eagles go for the title-clinching win in Game 2 on Thursday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I think they’ll be fired up especially in supporting their coach,” said Black. “But we will be ready and also be fired up to play. I don’t think I have to motivate my players more since their (UST) coach claims we can’t beat them (fair and square).”
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