TNT rues missed free throws though raises concerns about officiating
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 01:06:43 +0000
TNT KaTropa consultant Mark Dickel would rather dwell more on the missed free throws that contributed to Wednesday’s 127-125 double overtime loss to San Miguel Beer that tied the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at 1-1.
While he had some concerns about officiating, Dickel felt they let the Beermen get off the hook when they failed to convert key free throws during the final seconds of regulation and the first overtime period.
“It doesn’t do any good to worry about that (officiating) because any time you bring that up, you lessen the fact that San Miguel played a great game,” Dickel said.
San Miguel’s Chris Ross reacts after his 3-point shot during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 2 against TNT at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. (Rio Leonelle Deluvio)
“We just gotta make free throws at the end of the game and it doesn’t matter what the refs do, we still win the game. So I’d rather focus on the stuff that we can control and what we can control is coming out and play another good game on Friday,” he added.
Don Trollano split his two charities in the fourth quarter, allowing former TNT guard Terrence Romeo to even the score at 106-all with three-pointer from the right elbow.
Brian Heruela and Troy Rosario missed four consecutive free throws with the KaTropa ahead 114-112 in the final seconds of the first overtime. That led to SMB’s Chris Ross finding Alex Cabagnot for the layup that added another five-minute session.
The woes from the 15-foot line in the first overtime caused TNT dearly as it had already lost import Terrence Jones to a second technical foul after retaliating to a Chris Ross foul with a hit to the lip.
Jones’ absence opened the door for June Mar Fajardo to take control of the paint. The ex-NBA player had made it difficult for the five-time PBA Most Valuable Player to get opportunities in the post prior to his ejection.
Fajardo eventually got favorable calls from the officials, including one that resulted in Rosario’s sixth and final foul in the second overtime.
“I just don’t see why it was a second motion foul on Terrence when he got hit twice before that. You know it’s almost very interesting, that call,” Dickel said.
“But look, ultimately we still controlled the destiny if we would have made the free throws at the end of the game, and they (San Miguel) played a good game.” (JONAS TERRADO)