University of the East head coach Chris Gavina agaisnt De La Salle University in UAAP Season 88. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — As University of the East’s struggles continue to pile up, Red Warriors head coach Chris Gavina couldn’t help but lash out at the game officials due to the ejection of Wello Lingolingo on Wednesday.
It was already a heated affair on the floor between UE and De La Salle University, but cooler heads couldn’t prevail after the match with Gavina letting the referees hear his grievances.
“I hope these three referees never f****** ref again in any of our games,” he said during the postgame presser. “It was a complete disservice to the outcome of this game. The beauty of the competition was taken away because you called an unsportsmanlike foul on one of our best players on a loose ball?”
READ: Baclaan’s injury clouds La Salle’s epic comeback OT win vs. UE
With the said call already being his second technical, Lingolingo prematurely exited the contest as he inadvertently hit Kean Baclaan’s right knee at the fourth period’s 4:21 mark, one that caused injury to the Muntinlupa-native.
However, Gavina insisted that Lingolingo’s actions were unintentional.
“I watched the video. They told me that Wello jumped f****** purposely on Baclaan on a loose ball? Get the f*** out of here,” he emphasized. “There's no way. You watch that video again. There's no way!”
At that point, Lingolingo already had 24 points on 5-of-10 shooting from rainbow country, and UE was still leading 89-84 with a lot of basketball to be played.
Unfortunately, despite Precious Momowei’s career night of 42 points and John Abate’s 25 on 6-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc, the Red Warriors were not able to hold on to their 21-point lead.
Jacob Cortez took over by scoring 17 of his total 26 points in the fourth and in overtime, in turn, sending UE to its sixth straight loss in Season 88, and 12th straight dating back to Round 2 of Season 87.