TNT coach rues free throw disparity lead to team’s loss

IN his first full season as coach of TNT, Nash Racela has carried the KaTropa to the playoffs in all of the three conferences at stake.

That’s quite an achievement for a rookie coach who is trying to make his mark in the PBA after leading the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to the championship two years ago.

But Mr. Racela believes he could have done better had it not been the excruciating experience of getting past teams owned by San Miguel Corp., most notably defending champion Barangay Ginebra.

“I’m happy that for three conferences, we were able to advance to the playoffs — twice in the semis and one in the finals. It just so happened that in all three conferences we played a San Miguel team and I’m sure you know how tough it is to play a San Miguel team. It’s really hard, but if we want to win a championship, we really have to get past a San Miguel team, but today, I’m sure a lot of people are happy with our loss.”

Against Barangay Ginebra, Mr. Racela felt the disparity in free throws had become the decider in the series. According to Mr. Racela, in three of the four games the Gin Kings won, they were awarded more free throws, the most glaring he saw was in Games 3 and 4.

Ginebra visited the free throw line 43 times in Game 3 compared to TNT’s 14. In Game 4, the Gin Kings went to the line 33 times while the KaTropa were given 16.

Tim Cone, the multi-titled mentor of the defending champion Gin Kings, came to the aid of his squad and gave his own explanation why they were given more free throw attempts.

“We were the more aggressive team. I don’t care what Talk ’N Text said. You were the more aggressive team, you’ll go to the free throw line,” added Cone.

But Mr. Racela doesn’t buy Mr. Cone’s explanation.

“I just want to congratulate Ginebra for being the more aggressive team tonight (Game 4) because they got a lot of free throws again. They were more aggressive than us despite taking less two-point field goals. I’m sure that’s what Coach Tim will say. Now going to the finals, I hope both teams will be more aggressive. That will dictate who will get more free throws,” said Mr. Racela.

Asked what players do they need to add, Mr. Racela answered in a sarcastic way.

“We need to have players who are more aggressive. Maybe that will help us,” he added. “Now, if we are more aggressive, we’ll force the referees to call more fouls. That’s the only thing I can think of right now. If you study the whole series, it boils down to who gets more free throws and fouled a lot. That’s one of the things we’re studying. Maybe we can improve on that aspect,” he added. —