CJ Cansino should have been given two free throws after a Calvin Oftana foul missed by referee Jeff Tantay was confirmed. PBA Images
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--PBA commissioner Willie Marcial acknowledged a huge officiating error in the clutch moments of Game 5 of the Philippine Cup semifinals between Meralco and TNT.

Marcial said on Wednesday night that a foul should have been called on Calvin Oftana while trying to block CJ Cansino's layup attempt with eight seconds left in the game.

Oftana seemed to have swatted away Cansino's layup that could have given the Bolts the lead again after the latter turned the ball over, leading to Jordan Heading's inside shot for a 97-96 Tropang 5G lead.

However, TV replays showed that Oftana actually hit Cansino's right arm and not the ball at all, confirming the missed foul call.

With the play incorrectly credited as an Oftana rejection, the game went on, and TNT escaped with a 99-96 win to clinch a spot in the finals and spoil a career game from Cansino.

With that said, Marcial announced that Jeff Tantay, the referee assigned at the baseline during the missed call, will be suspended for an undisclosed period of time.

One option is that Tantay will miss the rest of the conference, including next week's championship showdown between the Tropang 5G and whoever prevails in the other semifinal series between the San Miguel Beermen and Barangay Ginebra.

Another possibility is that Tantay will only sit out for a short time.