Refs also draw flak from owner

Sta. Lucia team owner Exequiel "Excy" Robles, like his coach Alfrancis Chua, felt they got the raw end of spotty officiating in their knockout game versus Barangay Ginebra Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

And Robles rued what he felt was one of the bravest stands ever put up by his team only to be ruined by the referees in the end.

"The boys played their hearts out. It’s sad their efforts went to waste because of the officiating," rued Robles.

Sta. Lucia team manager Ariel Magno said the whole team was so disappointed that all the players and members of the coaching staff are planning to go to the PBA office today to review the game tape with league officials and point out what they thought were the "flagrant wrong calls" in the game.

"We’re not disappointed because we lost. We’re disappointed on how we lost because of the officiating," said Magno.

Magno said Robles was the most disappointed, having witnessed the sorry loss in one of rare times he watched a game together with sister Irene and brothers Millie, Levie and Obet.

"Bumili pa naman ng around 200 tickets because (Robles) he’s expecting a good game because it’s a knockout duel. Tapos ang nakita lang niya referees destroying the beauty of the game," said Magno.

Despite what happened, Robles, however, commended the Realtors and set a thanks-giving party in Sta. Lucia East Mall in Cainta tonight. "He’s satisfied with the team’s showing. Despite a 0-5 start, an all-homegrown lineup and the shortest import (6-foot-3 Derrick Brown), the team had a fighting finish," said Magno.

Because of the 105-108 loss to Ginebra, Sta. Lucia, together with Shell, FedEx and Purefoods, won’t be back in action until the opening of the 30th PBA season in October.