San Sebastian College-Recoletos head coach Egay Macaraya did not hide his frustration with how the game was officiated during his team's clash with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on Wednesday.
The veteran mentor was ejected in the game with 4.1 seconds left in the second period as he was slapped with a disqualifying foul after his request for a coach's challenge wasn't awarded to his team.
Prior to that, Macaraya had already been given a technical foul.
According to the tactician, he plans to file a complaint before the NCAA Season 98 Management Committee in bid to iron out some of his problems with the officiating in the league.
"Frustrating kasi may nangyari. Ang sa akin lang ay mag-file ng complaint but 'yun nga 'yung problema, tapos na 'yung laro. Kung ako man ang mag-sorry o sila ang mag-sorry, I don't care kasi talo na kami eh," Macaraya said after their 83-78 loss to the Blazers.
The challenge was later granted, but the disqualifying foul stood, forcing Macaraya to leave the bench in the crucial game.
"Ang sa akin lang, ano ba rason nila eh tinechnical nila ako, binigay pala nila 'yung coach's challenge ko. Eh in-out na muna nila ako bago nila ibigay. That's not right."
Although they have bowed out of contention, Macaraya said he will still bring the issue before the league's ManCom, especially that he feels this is not the first time it happened to San Sebastian.
Macaraya shared he had a similar experience when his team faced San Beda University last November 6, which eventually saw the Stags fall to the Red Lions in overtime, 82-79.
"But this is the second time na nagkamali sila tungkol doon sa tawag nilang ruling doon, coach's challenge kasi meron silang guidelines doon eh," he added.
"Tapos doon sa crucial na laro namin kalaban ang San Beda, nag-ano rin kami ng coach's challenge doon tapos sinabi ng referee na hindi rin pwede katulad nung nangayari ngayon."
Macaraya was also not pleased when the referees made no call or review on the play where high-flyer Rhinwil Yambing sustained a cut above his eye after getting an unintentional elbow hit from Benilde's Will Gozum in the 5:41 mark of the opening quarter.
"'Yung kay Yambing na ang laki ng butas ng ulo, hindi man lang sila nag-effort na tignan din doon sa challenge. Ang sa akin lang ay maging consistent sana every game kasi marami ng problema eh."
Nonetheless, Macaraya was proud of the fight his players put up despite him missing the second half of action.
"Napaka-frustrating kasi alam niyo naman na kailangan namin 'yung panalo at tsaka chance na pumasok sa Final Four, but the boys did play well," he said.
"At least hindi sila natambakan but hopefully, ma-address 'yung mga problema."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
