Maroons coach Rey Madrid calls out referee after loss to UST
University of the Philippines head coach Rey Madrid could not hide his frustration over referee Ian Borbe who he said “should not be coddled” by the UAAP for the duration of the Season 77 men’s basketball tournament.
In a phone interview with Yahoo Philippines on Saturday night, Madrid urged the league, including basketball commissioner Andy Jao, not to let Borbe officiate another game this season for his “inconsistent officiating” in the closing stages of the Fighting Maroons’ 57-73 loss to University of Santo Tomas at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Ang dami niyang tawag nung patapos na ‘yung laban na sana hindi na dapat tinatawag pa. Tanggap na naman namin ‘yung talo kaso parang gusto niya paiskorin pa ng paiskorin ‘yung UST,” said Madrid, pointing in particular to the double foul called on UP center Mark Juruena and UST counterpart Karim Abdul at the 1:59 mark of the final canto, with the Tigers comfortably ahead 69-54.
With the call, Juruena received his fifth and final personal foul, forcing him to join back-up center Gelo Vito—who fouled out five minutes earlier—at the bench while leaving a big hole on the Fighting Maroons frontline.
“Nawalan na nga kami ng isang big man, talagang pina-graduate pa nila si Mark. Anong gusto nilang mangyari sa team namin? Kaya ang hirap to think without malice. May gusto ba silang habulin?” asked Madrid.
Incidentally, Borbe, a member of the Basketball Referees Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities, was embroiled in a controversy with Letran in an NCAA seniors’ basketball game last month and was even given by an initial three-game suspension following his heated confrontation with Knights guard Mark Cruz.
“Bahala na siya (Borbe) kung ano ‘yung gusto niya. Basta I’m not comfortable with him. Hindi ko siya pinepersonal pero hindi ko lang talaga maisip bakit pa niya ginawa ‘yung mga ganung tawag,” said Madrid, who also disclosed he has already sat down with Jao but refused to share any details.
Although he could face a possible suspension, Madrid added he’s bracing for any eventuality.
“Nasabi ko na ‘yung gusto kong masabi. Bahala na kung ano man ang magiging reaksyon ng liga sa akin,” he said.
