SAN MIGUEL MOVES ON! CASE CLOSED?

I just read Chot Reyes’ reaction regarding the Mo Tautuaa offensive interference controversy. And while I don’t agree with him, I can’t really blame him either. Naturally, he’s going to say that the shot felt off. But he also mentioned that it’s part of the breaks of the game.

In other words, as long as they came away with the win, that’s all that matters to him.

And if you’re reading this and asking, “What about his morals?” then I have to say—you’re being a hypocrite. Everyone appreciates a free meal when it goes their way. TNT just caught a lucky break in a tough finals matchup against San Miguel, and you expect Chot Reyes to hand it back?

A few weeks ago, TNT nearly lost a semifinal game because the referees only awarded Calvin Oftana three free throws instead of four.

Besides, the PBA never said the call was wrong. In fact, league officials even held a press conference while the Beermen were still preparing their protest. And I say “were” instead of “are,” because San Miguel eventually realized that spending P100,000 for something they had no chance of winning just wasn’t worth it. Not even Alfrancis Chua’s influence could sway the league this time. Maybe this is the PBA’s way of telling them it’s time to give a little, especially after all the years of benefiting from lopsided trades and questionable decisions.

Yes, the MVP Group has also had its share of power moves. But let’s be honest, there’s no way they were going to contest the Game 1 win even if the PBA overturns it. The dunk is just two points, and they won by three.

Of course, this whole thing is bound to upset people.

That dunk from Mo Tautuaa could have been an unforgettable PBA moment—him charging down the lane and throwing it down with the game on the line. But instead of celebrating it, fans were left frustrated.

In the NBA, when Russell Westbrook did something similar, people laughed and moved on. In the PBA, it triggered backlash. And if the league wants to stand by its rules, that’s their call.

But they also just gave critics another reason to say the league isn’t what it used to be—right when they’re supposed to be celebrating their 50th anniversary.