Talk ‘N Text top executives still fuming over Game Seven calls

PBA/Nuki Sabio

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters wish to congratulate the B-MEG Llamados for their Commissioner’s Cup finals victory, but top executives of the team are not about to let go of the issue of what they say was poor officiating during the deciding Game Seven.

The team is planning to send a letter to the PBA questioning the foul called by referee Jun Marabe on Talk ‘N Text forward Kelly Williams against B-MEG import with 1.7 seconds remaining.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, owner of the Tropang Texters, clarified that the team is not seeking a reversal of the result.

“May karapatan kang magsalita kung feeling mo agrabyado ka. Ano, tatahimik na lang kami? Hindi naman tama yun,” he said.

(InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the online news site of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.)

Talk ‘N Text executive Ricky Vargas questioned the call, saying that similar contact in other situations have been let go.

“Ang problema dun, yung consistency. They have not called that in the past, kasi nga, no harm, no foul,” said Vargas.

“If you look at the videos, there are many instances when they don’t call that as a foul. Bakit nila tinawag yun and with 1.2 seconds to go?”

Prior to the start of the series, PBA commissioner Chito Salud said that officiating will be a “non-issue” in the series, adding that complaining about calls is “a waste of time and energy” while promising that “the referees will call the games down the line.”

But Vargas said the team is seeking concrete changes to officiating the games, which include the following steps:

1. The use of most seasoned referees;
2. A clear definition from the Commissioner over what constitutes a foul;
3. The use of video playback to review questionable calls, especially at crucial times

But beyond that, Vargas insinuated that results of the games may be manipulated by external forces, such as gambling.

“There is gambling and all that, we just cannot prove it. But we all know it. If there’s such a thing, then let’s just be open about it para sa ganon hindi na-i-impluwensya yung laro or sitwasyon sa gametime.”

Pangilinan, for his part, said that officiating in the PBA is an issue that hasn’t seen any improvement.

“I’ve been here many years, frustrated. Parang walang nangyayari for the past 12, 13 years, nothing much has changed,” he said, adding that it’s a challenge for the PBA leadership to implement rules fairly.

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