Barrios upholds referee's crucial Game 2 call

Referee Maui Maurillo may be receiving flak from the public after making what some perceived as a questionable call during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals between Purefoods and Alaska. But the embattled referee would not be sanctioned by the pro league for his controversial call. This as PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios stood by Maurillo’s call – a foul called on Alaska’s Joe Devance in the last 1.7 seconds that allowed Purefoods’ Kerby Raymundo to sink the game-winning free throw and give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I asked the referee, was there a contact? Nagkaroon ba ng epekto sa play? If meron, then that was a correct call," Barrios told GMANews.TV. Using several cameras installed inside the venue – six from the league and seven from TV coveror Solar Sports – Barrios and the technical committee evaluated Maurillo’s call and decided to uphold it. The Commissioner said this multi-camera setup allows the league to “evaluate clearly whether there was contact [in a contested call] or if it should have been a let-go [situation]." “The good thing about having this new technology is that it puts us in a position where we can determine whether it was a good call or not," he said. Alaska officials, led by team manager Joaqui Trillo and coach Tim Cone, stormed their way to the official’s table and contested the call. Trillo was more vocal than Cone during the post-game interview and expressed his disappointment over the referees' calls. “Purefoods did a great job coming back into the game. They didn’t need the referees’ help. I’m sure, Purefoods wasn’t happy with their win, which was given to them on a silver platter by the referee," said Trillo. Trillo, however, stressed the Alaska Aces won’t file any protest. Still, some believed the Aces got the raw end of the deal in the dying seconds of that game. Multi-titled coach Norman Black, who worked on the TV panel as an analyst in Game 2, said he was surprised Maurillo made such a crucial call with the game hanging in the balance. For PBA chairman Lito Alvarez, the referee should have called it a let go even if there was a slight contact. “We don’t want to deprive any team of a good chance to win. At the same time, ayaw nating maging hindi maganda ang kalalabasan ng laro sa publiko," said Alvarez. “It was a judgment call made by the referee and his decision is final so wala tayong magagawa doon." "But in fairness to Alaska, the organization showed its class, that’s why I consoled them after the game," he added. - GMANews.TV