Basketball referee threatens to sue Arthro assistant coach

International basketball referee Raleigh Relator is set to file criminal charges of slight physical injury and grave threats against Oliver “Jojo” Lozano, assistant coach of Arthro Kontra Arthritis basketball team.

Relator’s complaint, which was recorded at the Carbon Police Station blotter, accused Lozano of beating him up inside the dugout shortly after Arthro’s 88-93 loss to Holcim Pryce Pharma-MisOr Moneygram in the 2007 Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association invitational Christmas Cup at the Cebu Coliseum Wednesday night.

Arthro and Holcim were fighting for the right to play for the championship crown in the four-day MVBA tournament.

Relator narrated that, while he was taking off his shoes in the dugout, Lozano suddenly arrived and struck him in the nape causing him to fall and lose consciousness for a while. He said that his nape was swollen as a result. “Pagkatapos niya ako sinapak, bumagsak ako at nawalan ng malay. Siyempre masakit ang aking loob.”

The alleged sudden attack might be linked to the loss of Arthro, said Relator but he added: “Fair naman ang officiating. Nagtra-trabaho lang kami rito. Di namin alam ang two teams. Ganyan talaga ang laro, may manalo, may matalo. Kaya lang dinibdib niya (Lozano).”

Relator believed that what drove Lozano to attack him could have begun when Lozano protested a call by another referee. Lozano allegedly threw an empty mineral water bottle on the court and this prompted Relator to penalize Lozano.

“Ako ang tumawag nang technical, kaya yun seguro ako ang napagbalingan,” Relator said.

Relator further alleged that, after the attack, Lozano threatened him by saying “I-salvage kita dito sa Cebu.” He said he ignored this then but he went to the Cebu City Medical Center for medical examination. 

The Freeman tried, by every means possible, to contact Lozano to get his side of the incident but to no avail. He was reportedly out of his house when contacted through his landline.

MVBA commissioner Jose “Boy” Murillo, when asked to comment on the matter, said that it was “very detrimental to the league,” and that the act of Lozano was “a conduct unbecoming of an assistant coach and should not be condoned.”

Relator has been a referee for 13 years, and had officiated games in major amateur and commercial leagues in the country and in various international competitions.

As a result of the incident, the MVBA penalized Arthro by scrapping its game last night against Malabon-Spring Cooking Oil, which was eventually awarded the third place trophy.

There has been a report also that Lozano also hit Ariel Bermeo who was busy texting at the time. Bermeo is also a referee but did not officiate in the Arthro-Holcim game.  — Garry B. Lao/RAE