FIRST it was San Miguel Beer’s Terrence Romeo to exit the Clark bubble over the weekend because of a dislocated shoulder.
On Monday, it was referee Sherwin Pineda who packed his bags and was sent home because of making a “bum call.”
Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed to BusinessMirror through a short text message on Monday that Pineda was relieved of his duties in the ongoing Philippine Cup after making what was described as “a terrible call” in the fading seconds of the Northport-Rain or Shine last Sunday.
Pineda, Marcial said, should not have called that foul on Paolo Taha in the last 3.1 seconds. Based on the replay, there was a soft contact on the back of the driving Rey Nambatac when Taha raised his hands.
The call rewarded Nambatac two free throws, which he calmly made, broke a 68-all count and gave the the Elasto Painters a 70-68 victory in the game played at the Angeles University Foundation gym in Pampanga.
The Batang Pier fell to 0-3 won-lost because of the defeat.