Victolero takes blame for late-Game 3 ejection

The emotions got the better of Chito Victolero in Game 3. Dennis Acosta
By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Chito Victolero took responsibility for his actions that led to his send-off late in Game 3 of the PBA Governors' Cup semifinals between Magnolia and Ginebra at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday night.

With the Hotshots down 10, 89-99, and the breaks not going their way, Victolero, after getting the ball in a deadball situation, gave it to a referee with force. The official did not like the gesture and slapped the coach with a technical foul.

With Victolero already incurring one technical earlier in the contest, he was shown the door.

"That is my fault. Dapat di ko ginawa yun," said Victolero.

Interestingly, his ejection motivated Magnolia to force a comeback bid down the stretch, and the team came just 53 seconds away from sweeping Ginebra in their best-of-five series only that the latter scored the last six points to steal the 107-103 win that forced a Game 4.


"Kailangan pa naming i-double yung effort namin," Victolero, whose squad blew a 19-point first half lead, further said.

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