Delta Pineda says allowing too much physicality factored too in bottle throwing incident during MPBL Finals opener

Pampanga fans threw water bottles at Lester Reyes for his second motion when he was entangled with Balti Baltazar. MPBL

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Pampanga governor Delta Pineda was not pleased with how the jam-packed Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City, Pampanga reacted to a disqualifying foul by Bacoor City's Lester Reyes on Pampanga's Balti Baltazar in Game 1 of the MPBL National Finals on Saturday night.

Some fans threw water bottles apparently aimed at Reyes for his actions on Baltazar with 28.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

In an impromptu public address, Pineda addressed the home crowd to refrain from throwing bottles.

However, Pineda, the concurrent Giant Lanterns' head coach, admitted he was also displeased with how the referee handled the physicality in the opening game of the best-of-five series.

According to Pineda, the bottle-throwing incident could have been prevented if the referees did not tolerate too much physicality.

"From the beginning, yan ang sinasabi ko sa mga referee, yung pagko-control ng mga sobrang physical [na plays] sa game. Ni-remind ko na sila, pero pinabayaan nila nang pinabayaan. Kaya tignan niyo ang nangyari. Ayokong ma-involve ang crowd. Iniiwasan ko yun," Pineda said during the post-game press conference following their 71-58 Game 1 win.

He then called on the officiating crew assigned for Game 2 on Tuesday night to be stricter in officiating the game so as to not put a dent in what he believes has been an exciting MPBL season.

"Hangga't maaari, yung mga sobrang pisikalan sa laro, dapat nako-control natin. Sayang yung liga. Ang ganda eh. Gusto natin matapos ito nang tahimik. Ayaw natin ng gulo," Pineda continued.

Pineda further pleaded, "Ang pakiusap ko lang talaga, sana i-level nila yung sa pisikalan. Pag sobra na, huwag pabayaan."

He added that he would not allow his players to spark a commotion that could get the fans involved and he does not want a similar bottle-throwing event to happen at the Bacoor City STRIKE Gymnasium when it will be the Strikers' turn to host the MPBL Finals next Saturday.

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