San Beda University head coach Boyet Fernandez is calling for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to have stricter officiating in the ongoing Season 97 men's basketball tournament.
Fernandez expressed that he wasn't satisfied with the way the referees were making their calls during the Red Lions' 63-57 triumph of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on Sunday to formalize their Final Four entry.
In particular, the San Beda bench didn't like how game officials handled the contact Saint Benilde's AJ Benson made with James Kwekuteye in the final two minutes of the game, which resulted in the Filipino-Canadian guard being held off the court.
"Mahirap magsabi pero sana tignan nila yung officiating, medyo masyadong mabigat," a frustrated Fernandez said.
"Ayaw ko na paulit-ulit kaming magte-tape tapos bibigay namin sa kanila, 'di rin nila makikita. I have so much respect for Commissioner Bai (Cristobal) [but] check lang natin kung ano 'yung mga weaknesses, 'yung mga maling tawag ng referees."
Fernandez, though, said they will accept if they were wrong about their contest on the calls.
"We'll accept kung mali naman kami, ganon naman talaga. But kawawa 'yung players namin, sana ma-check lang ni Commissioner Bai."
"They will surely get some tapes and some letters from us for sure with what happened today, but di ko alam kung anong sitwasyon."
"We're just happy that we got this win."
San Beda will next battle Mapua University in the Final Four stage with a twice-to-beat disadvantage.
—JMB, GMA News
