PBA: Delta Pineda says Converge should move on from officiating concerns during Christmas battle vs Ginebra

Coach Delta Pineda told his Converge players to stop complaining about the calls against them this Christmas. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY--Converge head coach Delta Pineda said that he had to advise his players not to dwell with how the officiating went in Game 1 of their PBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal tie against Ginebra.

Although not felt immediately as they still played toe-to-toe with the Gin Kings in the first half, foul trouble to key players Alec Stockton and Justin Arana hampered the FiberXers' bid to finally qualify for a conference semifinal for the first time in franchise history on their first try.

Not helping Converge's cause was Juan Gomez De Liano, although he was able to keep his fouls in check, only limited to nine points in a Christmas nightmare.

"Panay ang complaints ng mga bata, but I told them, 'Tigilan nyo na yung reklamo. Wala na tayong magagawa,'" Pineda said before he exited the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

In a game where Ginebra won by 20 points, the team fished 22 Converge fouls, leading to 23 free throw attempts and converting 19 of them.

The FiberXers, on the other hand, only went 7-for-9 from the 15-foot line.

The concurrent Pampanga vice governor hopes that the Game 1 loss should serve as a lesson on how to keep their emotions in check and keep their focus on the game as they once again face a do-or-die showdown on Sunday night back at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"Sana, on the next game, ma-realize nila ito kasi yung effort ng mga bata, sayang din naman," the former back-to-back MPBL champion coach further said.