San Miguel Beer’s Moala Tautuaa in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals against the TNT Troapng 5G. Photo from PBA Images.
MANILA — San Miguel Beermen’s Mo Tautuaa cried foul after his late-game basket was eventually nullified by the PBA Technical Committee.
The 6-foot-7, Fil-Tongan was supposed to be one of San Miguel Beer’s heroes in Game 1 of the Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals, but his deuce with only 56 seconds left in the contest was taken back due to what was deemed as a basket interference.
“That’s the exact opposite of the right call. I’ve seen it a lot of times, and I don’t agree with it,” said Tautuaa of the play that happened with only 56 seconds left in the game. “That sucked.”
READ: Hot-shooting TNT survives San Miguel’s 4th quarter surge to draw first blood
Deputy Commissioner Eric Castro said that according to PBA rules, Tautuaa’s missed dunk is classified as an offensive interference, but the 36-year-old veteran thinks otherwise.
“It’s very subjective,” he said. “It’s just a missed shot. People touch the rim all the time, especially on a dunk. By the time it went in, I was already on the floor.”
However, while Tautuaa was passionate about his sentiments, he was keen on not getting himself in further trouble.
“I’m mad, but I don’t want to get fined so I’m not going to say much on it,” he said. “You all saw the play that I’ve seen a lot of times and I don’t agree with it. Referees miss calls all the time, but just let [the players] decide the game.”