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By Ivan Saldajeno
ANTIPOLO--TNT may have moved closer to a twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals with a win over Star at the Ynares Center on Sunday night.
But that did not stop Coach Nash Racela from once again telling the referees a piece of his mind.
"Tinechnical [foul] na naman ako ng mga favorites," Racela said in the post-match press conference.
Racela was referring to a moment with 7:24 left in the game and the KaTropa leading, 91-84, when he was called for a technical foul for resentment to an out-of-bounds call by the officials.
Marc Pingris failed to control the rebound off a Glen Rice Jr. miss, and the ball sailed out to the baseline, but the referees thought Kelly Williams had a little touch of the ball, prompting them to give the ball to the Hotshots.
Racela fumed with what he thought was a bad call, and the referees gave him the foul and Paul Lee sank the ensuing free throw.
What he lamented, however, was that the umpires only gave Star coach Chito Victolero a warning for a similar situation.
"Tinechnical ako [noong] nasa loob ako ng court, pero si Chito ay winarning [lang kahit] nasa loob ng court," Racela continued. "Alam niyo na ang diperensya: pangalan."
Still, he kept his mind on the game and even told Glen Rice Jr. to keep his cool despite some of the officiating moves not going their way.
"I just reminded him that the referees won't adjust for sure. The only thing to do is to play through and above it and find ways to win," Racela bared what he told Rice.
Rice responded, delivering the clutch baskets to prevent Star from completing a comeback from 17 points down and preserve the TNT win.
Still, he kept his mind on the game and even told Glen Rice Jr. to keep his cool despite some of the officiating moves not going their way.
"I just reminded him that the referees won't adjust for sure. The only thing to do is to play through and above it and find ways to win," Racela bared what he told Rice.
Rice responded, delivering the clutch baskets to prevent Star from completing a comeback from 17 points down and preserve the TNT win.
[Related Story: Rice gives Acox rude welcome as TNT subdues Star]
What he liked more was seeing Troy Rosario and RR Pogoy showing heart despite the physicality.
Rosario went for the 50-50 ball in one play in the third quarter in spite of the danger of him getting hit in the head.
Pogoy, on the other hand, did not mind Acox's size and contested his layup, forcing the bad miss late in the fourth.
"I like what I saw with Troy and Roger. Despite being hurt, they played like true warriors. That helped us a lot," Racela commended his locals.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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