Jong says Siot playing mind game

MANILA, Philippines - Ginebra coach Jong Uichico believed his San Miguel counterpart Siot Tanquingcen was playing “mind game” on league officials and referees when he hit the officiating despite coming out triumphant in Game Four of the Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference that leveled their best-of-seven series Sunday.

Uichico said Tanquingcen could be employing a psy-war tactic for an added boost for his Beermen as both teams gear up for all-out war in a crucial Game 5 duel Monday at the Araneta Coliseum.

“He’s (Tanquingcen) just playing a mind game with the two teams playing a crucial game Monday. It’s been Ginebra, San Miguel, Ginebra then San Miguel again. He must be thinking if the pattern continues, it would be Ginebra again in Game Five,” said Uichico.

Despite losing the game Sunday, Uichico had no complaint over officiating and claimed “it’s one of the most well-officiated games I’ve seen” in the season.

Tanquingcen felt the Kings’ so-called “sixth man” — their huge throng of fans — has been influencing the decisions of game officials.

“We’re not getting any breaks from the referees,” said Tanquingcen after his Beermen barely pulled off a 106-104 escape win in Game Four watched by predominantly pro-Ginebra crowd of almost 15,000.

“It’s not that they’re (the Kings) being protected. But the crowd somehow affects the referees. All the close calls are given to them. You can’t fault them (the referees) because of the impact of the crowd. Maybe, it’s human nature,” Tanquingcen also said.

Uichico was surprised of Tanquingcen’s reaction on the crowd factor when he benefited from it on his two championships with Barangay Ginebra.