ALLAN THE MAN

Controversial referee Nol Quilingen called the PBA Governors Cup game between Rain or Shine and Ginebra as he saw it - nothing more, nothing less.

Finding himself right in the eye of a raging storm after calling a late foul on Beau Belga that led to Mac Baracael's winning free throws in a 101-100 Ginebra victory on Saturday, Quilingen reiterated he always make it a point to call the games as accurately as possible.

“Ako naman kung ano lang nakikita ko, 'yun ang itatawag ko,” he said.

That he insisted was exactly what he did on why he called a foul on Belga, who tried to stop Mac Baracael from attemption a three-point basket in the dying seconds of the Ginebra-Rain or Shine tussle with the Elasto Painters protecting a slim 100-98 lead.

The call led to three Baracael free throws that proved to be the game-winner in a 101-100 Ginebra come-from-behind victory.

Rain or Shine has filed a protest seeking the reversal of the game's outcome and a lifetime ban on Quilingen. 

Quilinguen, a native of Dumaguete, said he’s also affected by what teams and fans hurl at game officials especially after a controversial game such as this.

“Nasasaktan din po ako sa mga naririnig at nababasa ko. Pero pinalalabas ko na lang po sa kabilang tenga ko,” said Quilingen. “Basta ako po ginagawa ko lang trabaho ko!”

Quilingen was cursed and got even hit with plastic bottles by some angry Rain or Shine fans after the game, but insist that "he’d rather keep his self respect intact."

“Basta ako po alam ko sa sarili ko na wala akong ginawang masama. Trabaho lang ako. Hindi ako mahihiyang humarap sa mga anak ko pag-uwi ko,” said Quilingen, who has four children.

“Nasa kanila na yun kung paano nila kami itrato. Wala po kaming magagawa, referee naman po talaga lagi ang puntahan ng sisi,” Quilingen bared to Spin

He insisted there’s nothing personal whenever he calls a game.

“Sa akin kung foul, foul. Kung hindi, hindi. Syempre ang mga nanonood kanya-kanya ng basa. Wala na sa akin kung iba ang basa nila run,” he stressed.

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