© PBA
Tim Cone
Barangay Ginebra has decided against filing a protest over the team's controversial loss to GlobalPort in the knockout quarterfinals of the Smart-Bro Philippine Cup on Sunday.
With eight seconds left in overtime down 84-83, the Gin Kings trapped Stanley Pringle by the half-court line, hoping to force a violation on the Batang Pier guard and regain ball possession.
The referees, however, did not blow their whistle until Pringle passed the ball to teammate Terrence Romeo as time expired, giving GlobalPort the victory and their first ever semifinals appearance in the league.
Head coach Tim Cone complained to the technical officials long after the final buzzer, but he eventually affixed his signature to the score sheet.
The Ginebra mentor politely declined interviews after the game, but assistant coach Olsen Racela said the team was hoping for a five-second ball-hogging violation.
Ginebra guard LA Tenorio, meanwhile, said the game would not have boiled down to the controversial play if not for their lapses and accepted the non-call as part of the breaks of the game.
"Tingin ko five seconds. Kasi bilang na bilang naman e," he said. "And I saw him step sa half court din so maybe backing din. Kaya lang di tumawag."
Ginebra had until Monday noon to file a protest, but no letter was received by the Office of the Commissioner according to PBA Media Bureau Chief Willie Marcial.
In statement, Commissioner Chito Narvasa said the game is already concluded if no protest was filed by the deadline.
In the name of fairness, however, a hearing with the four referees who officiated the match was scheduled on Tuesday to review their performance.
"After that, we shall come out with our official action on them," read the statement. - RAF, GMA News