Austria says unsportsmanlike foul shouldn't have been called

An exasperated Adamson coach Leo Austria couldn’t hide his disgust over a “controversial call” moments after the Falcons dropped a 67-70 decision to the De La Salle Green Archers Wednesday night in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball action at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s very frustrating,” rued Austria, referring to the controversial foul called by referee Francisco Olivar on Adamson forward Gian Abrigo, who was jockeying for position against La Salle center Norbert Torres with the game on the line.

That call, which was ruled as an unsportsmanlike, was considered by many as a game-changer since the Fil-Canadian forward made two free throws and stretched the Green Archers’ lead to 69-65 going to the final 15.9 seconds.

For Austria, “that call should not have been made. I don’t know what triggered the referee to call that. It was a good game and the referees should let the players decide (the outcome).”

As of posting time, Adamson has yet to formally file a protest but Austria assured “we will see the tape. If there’s a technicality or bias on officiating, we will see (if we will put the game under protest). If it’s a judgment call, I don’t think mag-po-prosper ‘yung protesta. But the (league) officials have to judge.”

“Parehas kami lumaban. Even though we lost, taas noo pa rin kami. Ang mga bata lumaban talaga,” he added.

Meanwhile, league commissioner Chito Loyzaga refused to make any concrete comments and just said “I’ll watch it (tape) first.”