What’s with referee Bautista?

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

UNLIKE the semifinals on September 9 that was marred by controversies due to bad officiating by two of the three referees, the first game in the best-of-three final series staged on September 14 was quite pleasant with just minor miscues committed by the same whistleblower Ric Bautista. Annoyed this time was University of Luzon Golden Tigers head coach Renato “Jackal” Vidal as the inconsistent calls benefitted their opponent, their tormentor, the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes.

The bum calls were also noticed by Atty. George Mejia (sitting beside me) and my officemate Rod Ibasan, who observed that Bautista is not really suited for this game level – short of saying that the guy is just good enough for barangay tourney officiating. On the other hand, Mejia said if the referees will not be more careful, he predicted that the game might result in another controversy. Luckily, there was no untoward incident this time. Yes, there were some taunting in the third quarter between Dukes’ forward Antonio Mejia and Tigers’ guard Jonathan Panunciar, but this did not result in a rhubarb because cooler heads prevailed.

“Nagtataka nga ako kay Manny (referring to Manny Gatchalian, the BARECOM Region 1 Commissioner) kung bakit pa niya pina-officiate sa finals si Bautista samantalang alam na natin siya,” an obviously disgusted Vidal said unabashedly during my brief chitchat with him after the skirmish.

“Maraming natalo sa pustahan,” said Mitz Cresencio, a free lancer photo journalist. (Yes, I saw how the betting went through sign language, very much unlike betting in cockfighting).

I believe the second game for the finals on Monday (September 20) could be different because the Tigers of Dagupan City dad Chito Samson had already learned a lot of lessons from the three consecutive games of defeat they suffered in the hands of the boys of Atty. Gonzalo T. Duque. I have a hunch it will be a very physical game. Remember, the Dukes are the defending champions and they would want to prove to everybody that their triumph last year (their first ever in the league) was not a fluke. In case they lose on Monday, they will still have a chance to retain their title via a rubber match on September 22 at 2:00 p.m., also at Dagupan People’s Astrodome.

Let’s wait and see.

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I’m happy to report here that my only cycling son Jazy F. Garcia recently won the 2010 6th GTA TeleGuam Rainy Season Race Series. The 25-kilometer mountain bike event, held September 12, started and ended at Agana (capital of Guam) Heights. Also dubbed as the “Snake Road Loop”, the race was participated in by 39 riders, most of whom were Caucasians. Four of them trailed Jazy, namely: David Spelberg, Peter Lumbard, Cameron O’neal and Ben Ferguson. The victory was Jazy’s sixth time in a row. Jazy said the next race is scheduled on September 26, a 65-kilometer hilly race under the organization of the Guam Cycling Federation.

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