Tim Cone blames referees on Marc Pingris-Kelly Nabong melee

San Mig Coffee won over GlobalPort on Wednesday, but Mixers coach Tim Cone was in no mood to celebrate.

[ WATCH THE SAN MIG COFFEE vs GLOBALPORT BRAWL FULL VIDEO ]

“That was an eventful game. I’m worried that we may have won the battle but lost the war,” Cone said shortly after his team’s 102-88 victory.

The game saw a melee broke out capped by a fight between GlobalPort rookie Kelly Nabong and San Mig Coffee star forward Marc Pingris resulting in the ejection of both men. Possible fines and suspensions await the two players after a review from the PBA.

“We will see what the repercussions are from the commissioner’s office,” said Cone.

The incident started after a double-foul between San Mig Coffee import Marqus Blakely and GlobalPort enforcer Marvin Hayes. According to Cone, it wasn’t the first time Blakely and Hayes were tangled up, and the referees should have called a foul sooner to take control of the game.

“They didn’t have the control right then. They lost control then,” said Cone.

“At some point, the players are gonna react, I think that’s where the mistake was.

“Whether they pulled each other down or what, there should have been a call.”

Cone himself got tangled up during the melee, latching on to Nabong to try to stop the big man. That drew comparisons to former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was in a similar situation during a brawl involving the Miami Heat.

The San Mig Coffee coach himself noted the similarity.

“I was a little scared to get in the middle of it, but it’s coach’s rule to get in there to try to break it up,” said Cone. “Luckily, he stumbled over me.”

Cone said he was no advocate of fighting, but added he couldn’t blame his players.

“I always preach to my players not to fight, not to lose focus,” said Cone.

“But the way it happened I couldn’t really blame my guys for standing up.”

GLOBALPORT TEAM OWNER MIKE ROMERO: 'KELLY NABONG DID THE RIGHT'.

“We’re a rookie team, but we cannot be bullied.”

This was a statement issued by GlobalPort team owner Mikee Romero in the aftermath of the Batang Pier’s fight-marred loss to San Mig Coffee on Wednesday at Cuneta Astrodome.

A melee broke out between the two teams capped by a fight between GlobalPort rookie Kelly Nabong and San Mig Coffee star forward Marc Pingris. The incident resulted in the ejection of both players.

According to Romero, Nabong did the right thing.

“Right after the incident, I told him that he did the right thing by protecting himself,” added Romero in an exclusive interview with InterAKTV.

“He made a stand and I think he won’t be bullied in the future. Mga Batang Pier itong mga ito.”

Romero said he expects sanctions from the PBA, but hopes for a fair decision from the league.

[ WATCH THE SAN MIG COFFEE vs GLOBALPORT BRAWL FULL VIDEO ]

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