Adamson coach Nash Racela mum on referee calls vs FEU (Sabong News)
Author
Carlo Anolin
Date
APRIL 08 2022
Nash Racela remained mum when things got tough for Adamson after calls made by referees seemed to interrupt their momentum down the stretch against Far Eastern University.
at the hands of the Tamaraws after RJ Abarrientos hit a game-winning three with 8.9 ticks left, dousing the late efforts of Adamson star Jerom Lastimosa.
“Ang hirap kasi marami na naman magsasabi na umaangal na naman ako sa referee,” said the Adamson head coach with a chuckle. “But you saw what happened in the game, so I think you are in a better position to answer that question.”
This was the response of the one-time UAAP champion coach when asked about the backcourt violation call on Lastimosa at the 2:20 mark of the payoff period with Adamson ahead by six, 62-56.
It was a downward spiral from that point for the Falcons as Xyrus Torres and Ljay Gonzales combined for a 9-0 run to lead by one point, 63-62.
FEU also capitalized on Vince Magbuhos being left out on the opposite side of the court after suffering leg cramps as Gonzales zoomed for the basket off an Abarrientos assist.
Lastimosa fired a go-ahead triple for a 65-62 lead with 20.9 ticks left before Abarrientos responded with the game-winning three of his own.
Nonetheless, Racela liked their chances in closing out games especially with the last ball possession at their hands.
The 5-foot-10 Lastimosa, who posted 16 points including three triples, six rebounds, and three assists, likewise had back-to-back attempts of sinking a potential game-winning three but fell short in the end.
“You saw what happened — one of the best games so far this season. It could’ve gone either way,” said the former PBA coach.
“[T]he good thing about is that three of those close games, we took the last shot, so meaning we had a chance of really stealing the game. So we just have to make it I guess the next time, the next opportunity comes, we just need to make it.”
