University of the Philippines (UP) Head Coach Bo Perasol admitted that frustrations got the worst of him in their blowout loss to Ateneo last Sunday.
“I apologize, first for my team, for losing it,” Perasol said in the aftermath of his ejection following an ugly incident that marred the Blue Eagles’ 89-63 lopsided win at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ateneo was at the height of a 12-3 run at the start of the third quarter when Perasol fumed over what he perceived was a none-call on the Fighting Maroons’ offense.
Jerson Prado attempted for a basket but was stopped by Ange Kouame. Perasol believed the Ivory Coast big man caught fouled his player but the referee saw otherwise.
The UP alumna charged the referee with his fist closed and constantly cursed the official. He was restrained by his players and coaching staff.
“It really doesn’t matter what happens on the court, but I have to think about my composure because that is what I preach and I was the one who lost it,” Perasol said. “That was a lesson for us, and I don’t think that was who we are. It was mostly because of what I did.”
Perasol, however, stressed the bad calls triggered his outburst.
“There was an instance when the official called the third foul on Bright [Akhuetie] and Bright was already at the other baseline. I really thought that the official followed him there. And for me, I was telling him [the referee] that you’re going to ruin the team, or you’re going to ruin the competition,” he said.
For his action, he is expected to serve a one-game suspension against Far Eastern University on October 6.