Hotdogs protest Express close win

Purefoods yesterday put under protest its 76-77 loss to FedEx Wednesday night, alleging Jerry Codiñera’s winning basket was made with no time left in the game clock.

Team manager Rene Pardo and the coaching staff led by head coach Ryan Gregorio filed the letter of protest with the corresponding bond of P3,000 plus video splices reportedly showing Codiñera still holding the ball when the time expired.

PBA technical chief Perry Martinez said they will deliberate on the issue and hopefully come up with the decision today.

"We’ve just hired a new assistant coach (Javier Nunag) with expertise on video. Siya na ngayon ang gumagawa ng dating ginagawa ni coach Ryan (Gregorio). And we have this high-tech equipment showing video tape frame by frame and second by second. Doon sa tape kitang-kitang hawak pa ni Jerry (Codiñera) ang bola when the time expired," said Pardo.

"We have to do it because we owe it to our players who played their hearts out. We also owe it to our fans and our company. Di baling hindi ito mag-prosper but at least we have done something. At baka makatulong pa kami sa PBA kasi nakita nila ang equipment namin. Pwedeng gumamit na rin sila nito in the future at pwedeng hindi na uli mangyari ang ganitong insidente," Pardo added.

Meanwhile, Shell and Barangay Ginebra resume their battle for the last quarterfinal berth in Group B as they take on separate rivals at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo today. The Turbochargers tackle the San Miguel Beermen at 5 p.m. then the Kings tangle with the Red Bull Thunder at 7:20 p.m.