Refs award FTs, victory to Purefoods

The Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants got the benefit of a referee call so bad even the TV panel questioned it during their live broadcast to steal Game 2 of the best-of-seven championship of the PBA Philippine Cup, 86-85.

Referees whistled Alaska big men with touch fouls all evening long, handicapping Sonny Thoss with four fouls in the first half and Reynel Hugnatan with five fouls before the fourth quarter.

The evening culminated with referee Maui Maurillo whistling Alaska big men Joe Devance for a blocking foul on Kerby Raymundo with 1.6 seconds left to play and the score tied at 85-all.

Raymundo made his first free throw and missed his second as the Aces went down in defeat to trail 0-2 in their playoff series.

I am sure Purefoods is not very happy right now, said Alaska team manager Joaqui Trillo who faced the PBA Corps in the Araneta Center media room after the game. I am sure they are not happy the way that game was decided. Maybe they would have won in overtime just the same. But we will never know after the referees made that terrible call.

Not a single reporter in the Araneta media room dared question the righteous sentiments of the Alaska team manager.

The call made by Maurillo was so bad that even TV analyst Norman Black openly questioned the call over live TV.

Overtime! said Black as the shot of Raymundo fell short and into the hands of Reynel Hugnatan. But wait, regulation period is not yet over. Referee Maurillo apparently decided to make a belated call.

What, they called a foul? asked an unbelieving Black over the TV broadcast. I thought they played pretty good defense, but they (referees) called a foul.

The TV panel then rewound the video to look closely at the play.

Well let’s take a look at it, said Black as the slow motion replay was aired. I know Kerby pump-faked. Oh that is not a very good call at the endgame of such a great game we have had today.

Black concluded his commentary by saying the referees made Purefoods management and fans very happy.

It was such a well played game and it is not really the way you would want to end it. But if you are a Purefoods fan then that is a great way to end the game, said Black.

Historically the situation is not too discouraging for Alaska. The Talk n Text Tropang Texters also trailed 0-2 before going on to win the 2009 PBA Philippine Cup.

In a disturbing trend reminiscent of the Barangay Ginebra versus Talk n Text quarterfinal duel, San Miguel Corporation team Purefoods seemed to benefit immensely from calls made by referees.

In Game 2 the Aces were assessed 32 fouls while the Giants were only called for 25 fouls.

The disparity in free throws was an eye-opener. The Aces were awarded only 18 free throws compared to 35 free throws that were given to Purefoods. The Aces were actually better from the stripe converting 15 attempts for a high 83.3 percent success rate. The Giants could only sink 21 of 35 attempts for a poor 60 percent rate. But the disparity in the number of free throws awarded was simply too big for the Aces to overcome.

The Aces trailed for most part of the game. They finally caught up with the Giants after Willie Miller rifled in a triple to tie the count, 55-all late in the third period. The Aces eventually posted a 62-57 lead after the third period.

The Aces then waxed hot early in the fourth period. LA Tenorio drained back-to-back triples followed by another triple by Brandon Cablay to push Alaska to a 14-point lead, 78-64, with just 5:29 to go in the game.

But James Yap led the fiery comeback by Purefoods which culminated in the game-deciding call by referee Maurillo.

The scores:

Alaska 85 - LA Tenorio 19, Joe Devance 12, Willie Miller 12, Tony Dela Cruz 9, Sonny Thoss 8, John Ferriols 8, Brandon Cablay 8, Rey Hugnatan 6, Mark Borboran 3, Larry Fonacier 0, Jeff Cariaso 0.

Purefoods 86 - James Yap 32, Rafi Reavis 17, Kervby Raymundo 14, Don Allado 5, Rico Maierhofer 4, KG Canaleta 4, Paul Artadi 4, Marc Pingris 3, Roger Yap 3, Peter Jun Simon 0, Romel Adducul 0.

Quarter scores: 18-28, 39-48, 62-57, 86-85.