The uproar stemmed from an incident with one minute left in the first quarter when TNT’s Ranidel de Ocampo tried to stop a driving Ronald Tubid to the basket, sending him to the floor.
The referees, led by chief referee Throngy Aldaba, who actually made the controversial call, took time to review what they saw was a foul that could warrant either Flagrant 1 or Flagrant 2.
It took sometime for the referees to review, but nevertheless announced it was Flagrant 2 on Ranidel. At this juncture, TNT coach Chot Reyes led his players out of the court and went directly to the dugout in utter disgust over the decision.
The PBA gave TNT five minutes to return to the court as per PBA rules, but the team stood by its decision to walk out of the game, and face the grim consequence of paying a minimum of P500,000 in fines under the PBA constitution.
A similar incident also happened in 2006 when Red Bull walked out of the semifinal match against San Miguel Beer, and incidentally, one of the referees then was Aldaba. The difference was Red Bull went back to the court. Red Bull eventually won the series, but not after being slapped with P400,000 in fine (for team walk out) and P100,000 on Red Bull coach Yeng Guiao.
“We have to uphold the integrity of the rules because it’s what made the PBA strong, and that’s part of my job,” said Barrios, who added he had asked TNT team manager Virgil Villavicencio to discuss the walk out, and Ranidel de Ocampo to discuss the flagrant foul he earned.
The fines could still increase, according to commissioner Barrios, depending on the outcome of the looming series of meetings ahead.
Barrios said the flagrant foul on De Ocampo is still subject to review, but if found to be as it is — flagrant — Ranidel will pay a fine of P20,000 on top of a one-game suspension.
With the forfeiture, the best-of-five quarterfinal series is tied at 2-all. Game Five is set tomorrow.
“We have not made any decision yet at the moment, whether we will play or not on Sunday,” said TNT’s board governor Ricky Vargas.
Reyes, for his part, narrating a number circumstances and figures (Stats) he drew from Games One up to Games Four, lambasted referee Throngy Aldaba, calling him “unfit” to referee in the PBA. Reyes even asked that the referee be banned from the PBA.
When asked what if the TNT management asks him of his comment for next game, Reyes said they would appeal that the flagant foul on Ranidel be reversed and Aldaba be removed from the officiating staff.
Source: Arman Carandang | The Daily Tribune
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